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BV 4447 .C527 1906
Clark, Francis E. 1851-1927
Christian endeavor in all
lands

Rev. Francis E. Clark, D.D., LL.D.,

The Founder of the Christian Endeavor Movement,

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
—IN ALL LANDS=

A RECORD OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF

PROGRESS

The Story of a Great Religious Move-
ment which has Spread Over all the Earth
from a Small Beginning in America.

BY .

REV. FRANCIS E. CLARK, D.D., LL.D.,

Founder and President of the United Society of Christian Endeavor.

Author of "Training the Church ©f the Future," "A New Way Round an Old
World," " The Great Secret," "Fellow Travelers," etc.

Profusely Illustrated

With Nearly 200 Half-Tone Engravmgs, Portraits and Etchings.

OFFICIAL EDITION

Entered According to the Act of Congress

In the Year 1906

W. E. Scull

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress.

This work is sanctioned and approved by
The United Society of Christian Endeavor and
is the official record of Christian Endeavor in
All Lands during its first twenty-five years of
activity.

In order to produce so valuable a work and
sell it at low prices, it is offered for sale by sub-
scription through authorized agents only.

To all persons desiring a copy of this book we
will, on request, send the name of our agent in
their community, or if we have no agent we will
arrange to send a copy of the book direct.

FORE-WORD AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

The preparation of this history has been no light task, not
because of the lack of material, but because of its superabun-
dance. In order to condense the story of twenty-five years into
a volume of reasonable length, it has been necessary to discard
much that the writer would like to include. Especially griev-
ous has it been to him to omit the mention of the service of
many personal friends and earnest workers in the Christian
Endeavor movement, whose achievements are well worthy of
record. But to name all who deserve "honorable mention"
in such a history would be to make it little more than a cata-
logue. The names of some workers whom the writer counts
among his dearest personal friends are not found in this vol-
ume. If any one should find any achievement of the Christian
Endeavor movement omitted, to which he thinks space should
have been given, he will know the reason. If, on the other
hand, any line of work seems to be unduly magnified, he may
remember the couplet of old Edmund Waller, which applies
to historians as well as to bards :

"Poets lose half the praise they should have got,
Could it be known what they discreetly blot."

It will be found, however, I believe, that no large de-
partment of the Christian Endeavor achievement has been neg-
lected, and that the leading events in the history of the move-
ment are here recorded.

In the preparation of this volume the writer has consulted
the reports of the leading conventions in America, Great
Britain, and Australia, which are contained in many large

iii

Foreword.

volumes, as well as files of The Christian Endeavor World,
The Christian Endeavour Times, Die Jugend-Hilfe, Activite
Chretienne, Esfuerzo Cristiano, O Esforco Christao, India
Christian Endeavourer, The Irish Endeavourer, the Church
of England Christian Endeavourer, The Christian Endeavour
Link, The Christian Endeavour News, and The Roll-Call, of
Australia, Endeavor, of Japan, The South African Endeav-
ourer, as well as many of the State papers of America, includ-
ing The Ohio Endeavorer, The Pine-Tree Endeavorer, The
Texas Christian Endeavorer, Iowa Christian Endeavor, The
Christian Endeavor Visitor, of Baltimore, The Pacific Chris-
tian Endeavorer, The Nebraska Endeavor News, The Varick
Christian Endeavorer, Endeavor Items, the New York
State paper, and many other papers published by State and
local unions.

I am also indebted to several volumes by Professor Wells,
whose contributions to Christian Endeavor literature are fre-
quently acknowledged, and have also consulted Rev. Mr.
Spedding's volume on "Christian Endeavor, Its Genesis and
Genius," Rev. Dwight M. Pratt's "A Decade of Christian En-
deavor," and other volumes which are referred to in the course
of this history.

My thanks are due to Rev. W. Knight Chaplin of Eng-
land; to Rev. L. B. Chamberlain of India, Rev. Frederick
Blecher of Germany, and many other Christian Endeavor
leaders in dififerent lands for helpful information, as well as
to many who have told me of their personal experiences, which
are embraced largely in the chapter entitled "Christian En-
deavor in Every-Day Life."

To some extent I have been able to draw upon materials
used in other volumes I have written concerning various
phases of the Christian Endeavor movement; but I have used
them very sparingly, since I have designed this history to be as
fresh and up to date as I could make it, from the standpoint

Foreword. ^

of the new quarter-century, which, as I write these words, has
just begun.

This volume has been written in a hospitable foreign city,
whither the author has come for the leisure and quiet which he
could not obtain at home, and, as these pages have been penned,
especially the later chapters, he would very gratefully ac-
knowledge the many letters and telegrams and kind messages
which have come to him from all parts of the world, inspired
by the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Society. Many of the
leading papers and magazines, in both America and Great
Britain, and some in Germany, France, and Switzerland, and
other lands as well, have contained most appreciative articles
on the twenty-five years of Christian Endeavor work.

May the coming quarter-century prove the Society to be
fully worthy of the numerous congratulatory words and pro-
phecies of even larger success which the anniversary has
called forth.

Above all, in making acknowledgment of aid received in
the writing of this volume I cannot forbear to speak of one
who has been my chief inspiration and unfailing helpmeet
from the beginning of the Christian Endeavor movement.
She it is to whom this volume is dedicated. She not only
rocked the cradle of Christian Endeavor, but has watched over
its growth with constant and helpful solicitude. In the prep-
aration of this volume she has rendered me invaluable help, not
only in the mechanical task of its preparation, but also in fre-
quent suggestions for its improvement,and much aid in search-
ing the authorities and the records of the movement.

Five years ago, on the twentieth anniversary of the move-
ment I had occasion to express my gratitude for God's good-
ness during the first score of years of its existence. In view
of the still larger blessings that have come during the last five
y^ars, I may be allowed, perhaps, to repeat in part the Psalm
of Praise for this full quarter-century of God's right hand.

Foreword.

1. I Thank God for the men with whom I have been
associated in the executive office of Christian Endeavor, for
confidant and fellow worker, for secretary and treasurer and
editor and trustee. There have not been many breaks in our
ranks — few by death and fewer still by alienation. There
were never more devoted friends than those who have worked
together for Christian Endeavor, some of them for nearly
twenty years.

2. I Thank God for the great number of Christian
Endeavor leaders in State and district and local unions; for
their self-sacrificing labor, which would aggregate tens of
thousands of years during these last two decades. To them
under God belongs more credit than will ever be known for
the success of the movement.

3. I Thank God for the pastors who have so many
times strengthened our hands, and overlooked our failings,
and cheered our hearts by kind words of appreciation; who
have so seldom been captious, so often generous and appre-
ciative; who have made Christian Endeavor possible by in-
troducing it to their young people, and by sustaining them
in their work.

4. I Thank God for the friends I have found in every
land and in every denomination; for the dear fellow workers
in Great Britain and France and Germany and Switzerland
and Spain, in Sweden and Russia and Bohemia and Bulgaria
and Macedonia and Italy and Portugal, in Australia and
South Africa, in India and China and Japan and many
islands of many seas; that our hearts have all been knit to-
gether by the Christian Endeavor tie that binds.

5. I Thank God for those who modestly call themselves
the rank and file, really the bone and sinew, of Christian
Endeavor; those whose names I know not, and who do
not care to have them paraded in print. These names are
written in heaven. They will all be accounted for in the
last roll-call.

6. I Thank God for the Christian Endeavor marines
who have sailed the sea for God; for the Christian Endeavor
soldiers who have stood for Him in camp and fought for
Him on the field, for the Christian Endeavor martyrs in
Madagascar and Armenia and China, who have counted not

Foreword.

their lives dear unto them; for the Christian Endeavor pris-
oners who behind the bars have found the liberty wherewith
the Son maketh free, and who, in Him, have become free
indeed.

7. I Thank God for those who have entered into the
blessedness of "the Quiet Hour," who have been hidden in
"the secret of His pavilion;" for those who have learned
the joy of giving as they have been prospered; and for the
millions of dollars which have been sent to relieve the desti-
tute and to enlighten the darkened eyes.

8. I Thank God for the strong young men whose
hearts He has moved to fight their country's peaceful battles,
and to stand for righteousness in the State, purity in the city,
and peace in all the world.

9. I Thank God for the boys and girls whose feet have
been turned Zionward in the Junior societies; for their child-
ish love and service; for the self-denying leaders who have
guided them so faithfully.

10. I Thank God for the beautiful fellowship that has
blessed Christian Endeavor, and that people whose creeds
differ, whose forms are various, and whose traditions are
diverse, have come to see that our Lord's prayer was for them,
that "they might be one," while the world has looked on and
said, "Behold, how these brethren love one another!"

11. I Thank God for the wonderful conventions,
which for a dozen years have so far surpassed our early
dreams and outclassed our early hopes; for these dear fellow-
ships; for their inspirations; for their joy; for the eyes that
have glistened, the souls that have broadened, and the hearts
that in them have leaped to new impulses.

12. I Thank God for His Holy Spirit, without whose
leadership all endeavor is vain.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul!"

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall con-
tinually be in my mouth."

"O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name
together."

Munich, Bavaria, Feb. 2, IQ06.

DEDICATED

MY WIFE.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE.

I. The Soil, the Seed, and the Climate . . . . 17

II. The Genesis OF the Christian /Endeavor Society . 34

III. Some First Things 42

IV. The Exodus of the Society 52

V. The Line of March .63

VI. The Hand of Providence 74

^VII. Underlying Principles 89

VIII. Helps and Helpers 103

IX. Helpers in Type 116

X. The Great Conventions 128

XL London and Ningpo 142

XII. Wonderful Gatherings in Australia and India . 159

XIII. "The Best Yet" 172

XIV, Cm Bono? 185

XV. Young Men and Maidens 199

XVI. The Junior Army 212

XVII. The Society and the Psychologist 225

XVI 11. The Christian Endeavor Covenant 241

XIX. The Christian Endeavor Forum 254

XX. The Society's Programme of Work 266

XXI. The Society and Its Relations 275

XXII. Back Currents and Eddies 288

XXIII. Touches of Color 298

XXIV. Christian Endeavor as an Educator . . . .312
XXV. Evangelistic Endeavor at Home and Abroad . . 327

XXVI. The Society as a Democracy 341

XXVII. The New and the Old in Christian Endeavor . 352

XXVIII. Christian Endeavor in the Americas .... 362

XXIX. Christian Endeavor in Europe 380

XXX. Christian Endeavor in Africa 400

XXXI. Christian Endeavor in Asia 416

XXXII. Christian Endeavor in the Island World . . . 438

Contents.

CHAP. PAGE.

XXXIII. Christian Endeavor Among the Boer Prisoners . 452

XXXIV. Christian Endeavor Afloat 462

XXXV. Christian Endeavor in Surprising Places . . . 473

XXXVI. Four Christian Endeavor Journeys Around the

World 487

XXXVII. Citizenship Endeavors • . 497

XXXVIII. Kindling Missionary Fires 508

*^XXXIX. Christian Endeavor and the Deeper Christian

Life , . . 521

XL. Practical Endeavors .529

XLI. Christian Endeavor in Every-day Life ... 540

XLII. Heroic Christian Endeavor . . . . « -550

XLIII. Christian Endeavor in Song = . 560

XLIV. Bright Plans Tried and Proved ...... 576

^XLV. How to Lift an Endeavor Society 586

XLVI. The Pastor and the Christian Endeavor Society . 593

XLVII. Convention Oratory 601

XLVIII. " That They All May Be One " ..„.,. 614

FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS

Dr. Francis E. Clark Frontispiect

WiLLiSTON Church Page ig

An Avenue of Palms in Honolulu " 65

Leading British Endeavorers " 75

Prominent British Endeavorers " 79

Christian Endeavor in Different Languages " 85

A Gospel Boat in Foochov^^ " 88

C. E. Convention in Bombay " 91

Prominent American Endeavorers " 105

Leading American Endeavorers . . . '. . " 109

American Endeavorers " 117

Facsimile of Swiss C. E. Paper "121

The White City at Detroit . " 129

The All-India Convention at Allahabad " 169

Dr. Clark's Five C. E. Journeys in Europe "191

Endeavorers of Many Lands " 201

Aboriginal American Endeavorers " 205

Some Chinese Juniors " 213

C. E. Badges from Many Parts of the World " 299

A Remarkable Banner from China " 310

View of Lake Manomet, near Sagamore Beach, Mass " 315

Chicago Endeavorers' Evangelistic Cruise " ZH

Royal Endeavorers, Prince and Princess of Sweden " 343

Officers and Workers in Europe " 381

A Street Scene in Cairo " 401

Christian Endeavor in Egypt " 403

Workers of Various Nations " 4' 7

The Taj Mahal of Agra, India " 429

Floating C. E. Society. On Board the U. S. S. Maine .... " 465

Australian Aborigines " 475

A C. E. Society School for the Blind at Bombay "481

One Way of Going to a C. E. Convention in China " 509

An Industrial School in India " 513

Prominent Christian Endeavor Evangelists " 5-3

Two Heroes of China '" 55 1

Leaders in Song " 56 r

At the National Capital " 5^7

Famous Preachers and Christian Endeavorers " 595

ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT

An Old Book by Cotton Mather Page 24

WiLLiSTON Church Parsonage " z]

WiLLiSTON Chapel " 30

Mrs. Francis E. Clark " 35

Facsimile of Original C. E. Constitution " y]

First Twenty Names of Original Members " 40

IV. J. Van Patten " 43

Memorial Tablet, Williston Church " 46

Rev. C. a. Dickinson " 48

The C. E. Covenant in Tamil " 55

The Japanese C. E. Covenant " 56

Telugu C. E. Covenant " 60

The Bridge of Ten Thousand Ages " 67

A Ragged Sunday School in Foochow^ " 70

Miss A. Bliss " 71

Jamaica Christian Endeavor " 83

Leaders of C. E. Work in India " no

Geo. W. Coleman " 114

Our Brothers in Type " 124

A Typical C. E. Convention Tent Scene " 133

A C. E. Convention Audience in Boston " 136

London International C. E. Convention " 144

Children's Choir, London International " 150

The Ningpo Convention Committee " 154

The Ningpo Officials " 156

Town Hall, Sydney, Australia . . . . » " 160

In the Australian Bush " 163

Mexican Endeavorers " 174

Christian Endeavor in Japan " I77

Baltimore Convention Building " 183

Ute Indians Going to Colorado Convention " 188

Christian Endeavor in Ireland " i94

Some Presidents of C. E. Societies in Persia " 208

Some Junior Endeavorers of Harpoot, Turkey " 214

Chinese C. E. Juniors at Foochow " 217

Some Spanish C. E. Juniors " 218

Bridge Built by Juniors at Melbourne Convention "221

Representing Growth of C. E. Movement in China " 223

German Boy Who Formed a Society in School 227

Junior C. E. Music Band, Konigsberg Germany "230

xiii

xiv Illustrations.

C. E. Juniors in Bebek, Turkey Page 235

Facsimile of a C. E. Pledge " 243

The C. E. Covenant, Turkish " 246

The C. E. Covenant, Bohemian " 248

The C. E. Pledge, Malagasy " 251

Getting Ready for a Convention in Portugal " 258

Sunshine Committee in Turkey Reading to Blind Woman . . . " " 268

Rev. Enrique de Tienda " 272

The M. E. Society of Barcelona, Spain " 282

Rough Sketches from Which C. E. Badge was Designed .... " 303

The Increase Banner Given to Oregon " 305

Johanneslund Missionary Institute " 317

C. E. Summer School, Yarmouth, Maine " 321

New Summer Home of C. E. at Sagamore Beach " 323

First Mothers' Society of C. E., Topeka, Kansas " 329

Men's Meeting during Convention, Washington, D. C " 335

Raw Material for the C. E. in Africa " 338

Monastir, Turkey, Home of Four C. E. Societies " 339

English, Irish and Scotch C. E. Convention, Scotland .... " 347

A Bit of the Last Welsh C. E. Convention " 349

Tent Endeavor, Denver C. E. Convention " 369

Endeavorers at Dr. Clark's Birthplace, Aylmer, Quebec .... " 374

The Cathedral in Mexico City " 375

The Second National C. E. Convention in Brazil " 377

Group of Endeavorers in Sao Paulo, Brazil " 378

Scandinavian Delegates to C. E. Convention in Berlin .... " 386

A C. E. Convention in Sweden " 389

First C. E. Convention Held in Russia " 391

Executive Committee of Hungarian C. E. Union " 392

Spanish C. E.'s in Costumes of Different Provinces " 394

C. E. Society, Geneva, Switzerland " 396

A Junior C. E. Society in Spain " 397

Spanish Junior C. E. Society of Valencia " 399

C. E. Society of Lagos, West Coast of Africa " 405

How Some Christian Endeavorers Travel in Africa ..... " 408

Executive Committee of the South African C. E. Union .... " 411

Seventh National South African Convention at Durban, 1905 . . " 413

Rev. D. G. W. R. Marchan "415

The Zig-Zag Bridge in China " 420

The White Pagoda in Foochow " 422

Japanese Endeavorers at Osaka " 423

The Banner Convention PIeld in Japan in 1903 ....... " 425

A Japanese Women's C. E. Society " 427

Street Scene in Calcutta " 43i

Some Endeavor Leaders in India " 433

Illustrations.

Girls' C. E. Society in Marsovan, Turkey Page 435

City Hall, King William Street, Adelaide " 440

Some Leading Endeavor Workers in Australia . " 442

Girls' School, Kohala^ Hawaii " 446

Miss Olafia Yohansdotter, Icelandic Interpreter ...... " 450

John Makins, Mgr. Seamen's Home, Nagasaki, Japan ..... " 466

Antoinette P. Jones, Falmouth, Massachusetts " 467

Floating Christian Endeavorers, U. S. Cruiser Chicago .... " 469

The White C. E. Society in Frankfort State Prison " 477

On the Valdez Glacier, in Alaska " 483

Some C. E. Veterans, National Military Home, Kansas .... " 485

A Beauty Spot in New Zealand " 488

Going by Wheelbarrow to a C. E. Service in China " 490

Mayoral Reception to Dr. Clark, New Zealand " 491

Route of Dr. Clark's Fourth Journey Around the World .... " 492

A Scene in Scandinavia . " 494

How We Travel in the Boxer Country .........* " 495

Drinking Fountain Erected by Christian Endeavorers .... " 500

Hon. S. B. Capen, LL. D., Boston, Massachusetts " 501

Hon. H. B. F. Macfarland "505

German Endeavor Officers " 511

C. E. Society Girls' Orphanage, Marsova, Turkey in Asia ... " 516

Before and After — Before " 518

Before and After — After " 519

C. E. Flower Committee in India Starting for the Hospital . . " 531

C. E. Rest for Ranchmen at Pierre, South Dakota -" 533

Lumbermen's Reading Room, Furnished by Endeavorers ... " 536

Recognition Certificate ' 53S

A Native Alaskan Christian Endeavorer " 54^

An Open Air Meeting in Bahia, Brazil "545

Christian Endeavorers Among the Lepers " 556

Mr. Tung and His Family " 558

Facsimile of C. E. Hymn by Rev. Samuel F. Smith ..... " 56-2

Hymn and Music by Rev. John Pollock "566

Blest Be the Tie That Binds, in French "569

Farewell to Soldiers Leaving Japan for China ...... ', ^"^^

A Burmese Choir Leader 574

A Musical Notation ^^ 5c^o

Record of C. E. Missionary Collections, 1905 '^' 581

A German C E. Cartoon « ^°^

A German Symbol of Christian Endeavor . 600

- CHAPTER I.
THE SOIL, THE SEED, AND THE CLIMATE.

HEREIN IS DESCRIBED THE SOIL OF YOUTHFUL HEARTS,
THE GOOD SEED OF THE WORD AND OF PERSONAL
SERVICE, AND THE CLIMATE, WARM AND KINDLY, OF
THE CHURCH OF THE LAST QUARTER OF THE NINE-
TEENTH CENTURY, TOGETHER WITH A DESCRIPTION
OF SOME EXPERIMENTS IN CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
THAT ANTEDATE THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY.

" The wonder now is that we have been expending ourselves
so largely on literary and mutual-improvement societies, instead
of appealing to the spiritual forces that were lying unawakened
in so many j'oung natures. The church life of the future will
be healthier, gladder, more enterprising, as our Endeavorers
pour into the churches to assume, as they certainly will do, posi-
tions of great responsibility." Rev. F. B. Meyer.

HE growth of a new movement in the moral or re-
ligious world, or, for that matter, in the social,
business, or any other world, is very much like
the development of a new fruit or flower. Two
things, at least, are essential, the soil and the seed.
In the Christian Endeavor movement the soil is the heart of
youth, warm, responsive, easily cultivated. The seed is the
idea of personal service for Christ and for the church.

But the soil, however fertile, and the seed, though burst-
ing with life, will not produce their normal fruitage in an
inhospitable climate. The most fertile soil and seed brought
together at the north pole will produce no fruit, and the neces-
sary climate for the growth of the Christian Endeavor seed

2 17

i8 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

and its propagation in all parts of the world was not found
until the last quarter of the nineteenth century, when interest
in Christian nurture and the training of the young for Chris-
tian service began to be the most vital interest of the Christian
church. Here, then, were the three essentials of the new
movement: soil, seed, and climate.

The good soil and the good seed had of course always
existed, and the good atmosphere in a limited degree; but they
had never been brought together for the development and
growth of a new and universal movement.

That the soil of youthful hearts has always been respon-
sive to the highest motives and always been ready to bring
forth the good fruits of Christian service is proved by the
experience of all those who have had anything to do with the
Christian nurture of the young since our Lord said, "Let the
little ones come unto Me."

Many were the groups of boys and girls who in the elder
days came together for prayer or for Christian work. The
experience of my older readers is confirmed by the latest word
of the psychologists, who have written many learned volumes
to prove that at the period of adolescence and soon after the
soul of the child is opened to the Infinite as at no other time.
Then, they tell us, the soil of the soul is most prolific and fruit-
ful. New thoughts, new emotions, new aspirations, spring up
as if by magic.

The good seed of the Word of God, and of personal ser-
vice, too, for Christ's sake, has often been planted in all the
ages past in the soil of youth by wise teachers and pas-
Personai ^^^^ jj^^ jj^^j^ j^^ ^^-^.j^ ^1^^ ^^^ loaves and the two
Service.

fishes, the little Israelitish maiden in the court of

Syria, are typical Junior Endeavorers. The boys have always
been ready to distribute the loaves and fishes, and the girls have
always been willing to tell the good news which they have
learned, when wisely directed and encouraged by their elders.

The Soil, the Seed and the Climate. i.

20 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

But, alas! the third element of religious growth among the
young, the warm, genial, all-embracing atmosphere of good
will and interest in their work, has not always been found in
the Christian church. In fact, until within the last half-cen-
tury little has been thought of them or their needs. The idea
of conquest from without dominated the church, rather than
the thought of growth from within. The minister and evan-
gelist sought to turn the calloused feet of hardened sinners into
the way of truth rather than the tender feet of the little child.
The thought of the church as an army rather than a home, or
as a hospital for the decrepit and the diseased rather than as a
nursery, dominated the religious thought of the centuries;
and it was not until Bushnell wrote his epoch-making book on
Christian nurture that the modern religious world began to see
that there must be training from within, as well as conquest
from without, if the church was to hold her own, and win the
world to her standards.

One of the most interesting illustrations of the truth that,
whereas the right soil and the right seed were often brought
together, yet the genial climate was lacking is furnished by
the stories of the old young people's societies which were
formed in the earlier Puritan days of the New England com-
monwealths. There were at one time a number of such socie-
ties, which had many features in common with the Christian
Endeavor movement, though nothing was known of them by
the leaders of the modern movement for years after the Chris-
tian Endeavor Society had grown strong.

As gunpowder and the mariner's compass and the
printing-press were invented in China centuries ago, and re-
invented on an entirely independent basis when the
Puritan modern European world had need of them, so the

^' principles of the modern Christian Endeavor So-
ciety seem to have been antedated by the Puritans of the Mas-
sachusetts Colony. No one less distinguished than Cotton

The Soil, the Seed and the Climate. 21

Mather himself, apparently, formed the first of these societies.
The seed was so good, and the soil so fertile, that a number of
others sprung up in Massachusetts and the other New England
colonies in the first half of the eighteenth century, more than a
hundred and fifty years before the beginning of the modern
Christian Endeavor movement.

Here is a copy of three features of the agreement* made in
June, 1741, by the young people of the North Parish of
Bridgewater, now Brockton, Mass. We reproduce this agree-
ment exactly as written out by these "yuthe who Thrue the
grace of God have been awakened to be consarned about the
things that belonge to our everlasting peace and that wolde re-
member our Creator in the days of our yuthe." The spirit and
purpose of these "yuthe" are evidently more to be commended
than their orthography.

"i it shall be our endeaveare to spend the tow ourse
frome seven to nine of every lords day evening in prayer to
gathare by turnse the one to begine and the outhear to con-
clud the meting and betwene the tow prayers haveing a sar-
mon repeated whereto the singing of a psalm shall be anexed
and ef aftear the stated exersise of the eveneing are ovear if
theare be any residue of time we will aske one a nothare ques-
tions out of the catecism or some questions in divinyty or have
such reliagus conversation as we shall best sarve for the edefi-
cation of the sosiety."

"2 that we will bare with one anothare infarmitys and
not upbrad tharwith nor deulge any thing of what natur so-
ever to that is done at our meetings to the pregedic of it."
** * ***********

"3 one in tow monthes we will read over our articals
at our metings and call over our lest that if any have been
absent that may by one of the sosiety be asked the reson
tharfore."

That the movement indicated by this ill-spelled agreement

* This document was discovered by Rev. Otis Cary, an honored missionary
to Japan, when home on a furlough, and was sent to the writer.

22 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

among the youth of Bridgewater was somewhat widespread is
indicated not only by the church records which we find in va-
rious towns, but by some ancient books, notably a rare little
leather-covered volume by Cotton Mather, the originator of
these societies, published in 1724, and entitled 'Proposals for
the Revival of Dying Religion by Weil-Ordered Societies for
that Purpose."

In this little volume, also, are contained the constitution
and rules on which the other similar societies were evidently
Cotton based, and these bear many curious resemblances to

Mather's the modern Christian Endeavor Society. There

Model. . . -'

was to be a weekly meeting at which all the mem-
bers evidently were expected to be present, and in these meet-
ings "two hours were to be occupied with prayers and a ser-
mon and the singing of a psalm annexed." Yet these differ-
ences from a modern young people's meeting, which at first
seem so radical, were only what might be expected in the more
sedate and sermon-loving days of the Puritan commonwealth.
This society was formed long before the organized missionary
efforts of the American churches; but that the missionary
spirit was not absent is proved by the fact that a collection was
provided for, though only once in three months, "out of which
the necessary charges of the society shall be defrayed, and the
rest be employed upon such pious uses as may be agreed upon."

But the most interesting resemblance between this old-
fashioned society and those of modern times is the provision
for keeping the membership an active one, and weeding out,
from time to time, those who have lost their interest or are
wilfully negligent of their duties. In the modern society the
delinquent mxmber is quietly dropped after three consecutive
and unexcused absences from the monthly roll-call meeting.
In the ancient society we find this provision in the constitu-
tion :

"Let the List be once a quarter called over; and then. If

The Soil, the Seed and the CHmate. 23

it be observed, that any of the Society have much absented
themselves, Let there be some sent unto them, to inquire the
Reason of their Absence; and if no Reason be given, but such
as intimates an Apostacy from good Beginnings, Let them
upon Obstinacy, after loveing and faithful Admonitions, be
Obliterated."

Evidently Cotton Mather meant that the names should be
obliterated from the roll of the society, and not the persons
themselves; a rule which if carried out in many a modern
church and religious society would do much to prevent the
accumulation of dead and unsightly limbs on the living tree.

Yes, in those ancient days the seed was sound and the soil
was fertile — there can be no doubt about it, for it was
A substantially the same seed and the same soil that

Atmos? have produced so abundant fruitage during the last
phere. quarter of a century. But how different was the at-

mosphere! As different as December from June. The
church of that day abounded in strong, stalwart, militant
souls; but the hard surroundings of those pioneer days, the
rugged theology that had more often conceived of God as a
King and a Judge than as a loving Father, and more especially
the Pauline idea of conversion, which dominated the church
almost to the exclusion of the Timothy type, all combined to
produce an atmosphere in which these young people's societies
could not long thrive. A few far-seeing souls, like Cotton
Mather himself, and doubtless others of his type, recognized
the vast importance of such a movement. They prayed, they
preached, they organized, but the atmosphere of the times was
too much for them.

The symbol of the church in those days was the tithing-
man's stick, with which to rap naughty boys over the head,
rather than the shepherd's crook wherewith to guide them into
the green pastures of loving service. After a time these socie-
ties seem to have wholly disappeared. No trace of one of them

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

was to be found in any of the churches where they had been
established, except in some musty records; and their exist-
ence was wholly unknown, except possibly to a few antiqua-

Keligious Societies.

PROPOSALS

For the REVIVAL of

Dying Religion,

BY WellOrdered

Societies

For That PURPOSE.

With a brieFDiscouRSE, Offered
unto a Keligious Society, on
the Firft Day ot their Meeting.

I Their V. II. Edify one another

BOSTON:
Printed by S. Kneeland» for John
Phillips, and Sold at his Shop
over againft the South-fide of the
Town Houfe. 1724.

UTLE-PAGE OF AN OLD BOOK BY COTTON MATHER.

rians and historical scholars, for years after the Endeavor
movement, which had unconsciously adopted some of Cotton
Mather's principles and methods, had grown strong.

The Soil, the Seed and the Climate. 25

But, as years went on, the atmosphere began to grow more
spring-like, and the theology of the day became more genial.
The appalling loss from the Sunday-school and in Christian
families of young people who did not walk in their fathers'
ways, and were lost to the church, forced itself upon the atten-
tion of the Christian public. Young America began to assert
itself more and more in various ways; and, though this asser-
tion had many unpleasant and some deplorable features, it also
had something to do with ushering in what has been called the
Young People's Era.

There were other contributing causes, too, which made
possible in the fulness of time the new young people's move-
ment. Almost exactly a hundred years before the formation
of the first Christian Endeavor society, Robert Raikes in Glou-
cester, in England, had formed the first modern Sunday-school,
other a poor little afifair, to be sure, for ragged children,

u2ng"''^ who must be tolled in by the ofTer of a hot potato.
Causes. yet the pioneer of that magnificent movement which
now numbers pupils by tens of millions, and its teachers by
the hundred thousand. But it was the pioneer of more than
the Sunday-school. That little ragged Sunday-school in a by-
street of Gloucester was the forerunner of many other forms
of Christian nurture and of interest in the religious life of
youth, and did more than all other things to prepare the way
for the time when the boys and girls, and their older brothers
and sisters, should not only be taught, and entertained, and sur-
feited with books and picture papers and summer picnics and
Christmas trees, but should be given their share in the service
and responsibility of the church of God.

A generation before the date of the first Christian En-
deavor society came the formation of the first Young Men's
Christian Association, and this noble organization, spreading
so rapidly throughout the world, and finding its most congenial
home in America, did not a little to awaken the church to the

26 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

needs and possibilities of the hour. If so much was to be done
for the young men, why should not the young women share in
the privileges and duties, and if an organization outside of
the church, though related to it in most friendly and sympa- ,/
thetic bonds, should undertake this most-needed work for their'
fellows who had no church affiliations, why should not the
church itself do such a work for its own young people, thus
drawing them to itself by the strongest of all bonds, that of
active and loving service?

Such ideas were the leaven in the meal, which silently
were everywhere at work until the whole was leavened, or, to
revert to the original figure, these influences modified and
warmed the church atmosphere toward the youth until the
good seed, once more planted in the good soil, could spring up
and bear abundant fruitage everywhere.

It is altogether probable, too, that many of the mistakes
and failures made by pastors and churches in caring for the
young people did their full share toward hastening the dawn-
ing of the day of this modern young people's movement. The
writer himself pleads guilty to his full share of these mistaker
and failures, and on that account can speak of them with free-
dom and without offence. Most of these mistakes lay along
the line of doing too much for the young people

Mistakes J r> r r

and rather than allowing them to do what they could

for themselves and others. Our Lord's command
was practically inverted, and "Not to minister, but to be min-
istered unto," the design of many, might have been the motto
of many of these abortive attempts to interest and help the
young.

With the very best intentions, but often with very indifTer-
ent results, everything possible was done to interest and attract
the boys and girls. Reading-rooms were sometimes furnished,
debating-societies started, musical clubs organized; teas and
suppers and picnics were the order of the day in many

The Soil, the Seed and the Climate. 27

churches. It became a standing and threadbare pleasantry
that there were two seasons of the year when the Sunday-school
would be sure to be full, just before Christmas, and again just
before the midsummer picnic. From the very nature of the
case the Sunday-school could not demand from its members
much in the way of service. The scanty hour devoted to it
must be filled with teaching. Many teachers congratulated

WiLLisTON Church Parsonage, Portland, Me.,
Where the first Christian Endeavor society was formed.

themselves if they could persuade any of their scholars even to
glance at the lesson in advance. "How can we attract the
young people? How can we win them to the church?" were
the perennial subjects of ministers' meetings and conferences,
but we seldom heard it asked: "How can we set them at
work for the church? What can we give them to do for
Christ?" The typical ministers' meeting which I attended

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

many years ago, just before the formation of the first Christian
Endeavor society, comes to my mind as I write. The subject
was the one which was even then familiar and well worn,
/What shall we do for the young people? How can we in any
measure stop the dreadful leak between the Sunday-school and
the church? How can we save the children of the church
themselves, those who were in a sense born into her fellow-
ship, and who she had a right to expect would grow up into
her communion and service?

In some form this old but imperious question was being
discussed. Various remedies, and more or less successful ef-
forts, were reported, when one young man, with the air of
knowing it all, arose and said that he had solved the problem.
He had won all the boys and girls to his side and to the side
of the church. And how did he do it? Why, simply by the
aid of ''the succulent oyster." He had brought the

Service, . -^ ^

not boys together and given them an oyster supper, and

'then had invited the girls, and treated them in the
same manner; and now they were all his friends and the
friends of the church.

To one other young minister in that assembly this solution
of the most serious problem in the church life of the times was
a woful disappointment, perhaps because he himself had made
some poor and useless efforts of a similar kind. In any event,
he went away disappointed and none the wiser; but his mind
Was gradually working out the problem, and from the very
failure of these poor makeshifts at Christian nurture he came
to see that there must be something more earnest and strenuous,
something that demanded service for the church, and not sim-
ply a condescending willingness to be pleased and entertained
by the church. In fact, he came to see that the order of our
Lord's life-motto could not be reversed, but that those who
should be won for the Christian life must minister, and not
merely be ministered unto.

The Soil, the Seed and the Climate. 29

But the entertainment idea had taken deep root every-
where in the church a generation ago. On my first visit to
Great Britain in the interests of the Christian Endeavor So-
ciety one minister in an ecclesiastical assemblage objected to
the Society because there was "too much prayer-meeting, and
too little lawn-tennis." For his part, he said, he thought it
quite as much the duty of his young people to play lawn-ten-
nis as to go to the prayer-meeting, and he would as soon think
of pledging them to one duty as the other.

However, the failures of lawn-tennis, of pink teas, and
Christmas trees, and summer picnics to strengthen the church
and develop the religious life of the young people soon made
themselves evident; and these many and varied failures were
not the least important means of preparing the Christian world
for an organization which should plant itself firmly and un-
equivocally on the basis of service for others for Christ's sake.

Thus was the atmosphere made ready for the upspringing
of the good seed in the good soil.

A new variety of fruit, however, must have some one
starting-place, some garden in which it may first be developed
X*'^ . and broup;ht to greater or less perfection ; then

Experi= 00 r 1

mental sccds and shoots are easily multiplied until the

of^*^ world is filled with them. Every country, and al-

Endeavm- ^lost cvcry State in our own land, has now its exper-
imental farm, where new seeds are tested and new varieties
of fruits and flowers are given a chance to show whether they
are worth the ground they occupy. Burbank, the plant-wiz-
ard of California, is conducting these experiments on an enor-
mous scale, and every now and then is surprising the world
with some entirely wonderful production of plant life. But
even Mr. Burbank has to acknowledge that many of his ex-
periments are fruitless. Not one efifort in a hundred, perhaps
not one in a thousand, brings forth a new and really valuable
variety of fruit or flower.

30 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

In some such way, though often unconsciously, and of no
set purpose, experiments are being carried on in the moral and
religious world. Many of them are necessarily failures, so far
as any large results follow; but they are all useful, at least in
showing how not to do it; and from a thousand plants, perhaps,
will spring one really desirable scion.

WiLLisTON Chapel, Portland, ]\Ie.,
Where the first Christian Endeavor society met.

Williston Church in Portland, Me., seems to have been
chosen by Providence as the experimental farm for the devel-
opment of a new variety of organization for young people.
The pastor of the church was by no means an ecclesiastical
Burbank; but he had the advantage of making various experi-
ments which he found to be failures, and of being turned by

The Soil, the Seed and the Climate. 31

these failures to the development of another and more fruitful
form of organization. This church was well adapted to such
experimental work. It was young, as well as its pastor. It
was only eight years from its formation to the time when the
first Endeavor society was started. It was buoyant, hopeful,
and full of large expectations for the future. It had no an-
cient traditions to hamper it. Its affairs need not forever be
managed in the same way because they always had been thus
managed. The first part of Peter's declaration concerning
the use of unclean animals was never used as a text in that pul-
pit, "Not so. Lord, for I never have." The people were quite
willing that their young pastor, whose good intentions, at
least, they believed in, should go ahead and do about as he
pleased, so long as he did not preach heresy in the pulpit, or
neglect the services of the sanctuary or his parish duties.
^P^g More than all, Williston Church was a most

Composition favorable experimental ground for a new organiza-
Wiiiiston tion for young people since its membership was
very largely made up of young people. The only
elderly man was the white-haired senior deacon, whose heart
was as young as the youngest, and who, had he lived to watch
the progress of the Endeavor movement, would have rejoiced
in it as perhaps no one else. All the other members of the
church, almost without exception, were on the sunny side of
forty, if we may assume that the younger side is the sunnier,
which, however, is an open question that need not be discussed
here. There were not a few boys and girls from twelve years
old and upwards ; for, though on one occasion a member of the
church committee in examining candidates asked one of the
trembling young disciples the old test question of sterner Puri-
tan days, whether she would be willing to be damned for the
glory of God, the question was not pressed, and children and
young people who gave credible evidence of conversion and a
purpose to lead a new life in and for Christ Jesus were always

32 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

gladly and affectionately welcomed into the church-member-
ship.

Moreover, all the members of this church had recently
come together. Its growth had been very rapid during the
last three or four years, and there was a feeling of keen sym-
pathy and joyous fellowship among its members such as is
rarely exhibited even in the most prosperous of churches.
One reason for this was that they had worked and sacrificed
together.

The church had been organized eight years before in a
humble wooden mission chapel, where for some time a Sun-
day-school had been carried on by the State Street Church,
one of the weathiest and strongest in the city. Here had come
together a few like-minded Christian workers, whose persist-
ent desire was to carry the gospel into a neglected part of the
city and care for the poorer people of the region, who could
not or would not go to the more fashionable and wealthy
churches. Their self-sacrificing labors were quickly and
abundantly blessed, and new members were added to the
church at every communion. Some wealthy and influential
men came to the support of the new enterprise, and threw
in their lot with the struggling church. A new and com-
modious building was projected soon after the coming of their
new pastor, a building which required all the resources of the
struggling church, and called upon its members
Local for no little self-denial. The prayer-meetings of

phere^^ WilHston Church soon became famous throughout
the city for their warmth and earnestness, and even
on Sunday evenings the people decided that a prayer service,
which often overflowed the vestry into the main body of the
church, was more helpful and stimulating to their religious
life than a more formal and elaborate service would be.

Thus the local atmosphere was exactly favorable to the
growth of the new seed which was soon to be planted. But one

The Soil, the Seed and the Climate,, 33

other condition was lacking, and that was soon supplied; for
an unusually gracious revival interest was aroused among the
people in the winter of 1881 in connection with the Week of
Prayer. In anticipation of this week the pastor had preached
and prayed. Expectation of an unusual blessing was aroused.
A special day of prayer by the whole church preceded it.
Prayer-meetings were held in connection with the Sunday-
school service after the first Sunday of January, 1881. The
expected, and not the unexpected, occurred. That which had
been longed for and prayed for came to pass. Revival inter-
est was awakened, as had been the case during the four preced-
ing years of this pastorate in connection with the Week of
Prayer; but in 1881 the interest was more general and intense

than before. Many young people were led to de-
Revivai cidc to livc for Christ and to acknowledge Him by
the^ociJty joining the church, and just at this juncture, when
was not only the general atmosphere throughout the

country was ready to welcome a new religious
movement, but when the special and individual climate, if I
may so speak, of that particular church was most congenial to
the new and tender plant, the seed was dropped into the mel-
low soil of youthful ardor and devotion, and the first society
of Christian Endeavor sprang up, and the movement, of which
the future chapters of this book will tell, had begun. The
Society, let it ever be remembered, was born in a revival.

CHAPTER II.

THE GENESIS OF THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR

SOCIETY.

THE BIRTH OF THE SOCIETY; ITS SUPREME PURPOSE; AND
THE WAY IN WHICH THE CHARTER MEMBERS AC-
CEPTED THEIR PASTOR'S SUGGESTIONS ARE DESCRIBED
IN THIS CHAPTER.

" The Society commends itself to me by proving itself at
once spiritual and practical, strong and supple. I appreciate
its unity and variety, and, finally, its high value as developing
simultaneously a spirit of ecclesiastical loyalty and of Christian
solidarity, the latter being symbolized by the common title
w^hich unites all the societies under one wide banner, while it
leaves to each of them perfect liberty."

Rev. Theodore Monod, Paris.

ROMANTIC interest always attaches to a birth,
however humble and unimportant. The fluffy
chicken peeping through the broken eggshell,
and facing the sun for the first time with its un-
accustomed eyes; the butterfly crawling out of
the chrysalis before it has once dared to use its untried wings,
are eagerly watched by every lover of life, because something
new is stirring. Into a new body has come that wonderful,
unexplainable principle called life. Even an incubator in a
shop window will always attract more attention than a dis-
play of the richest and costliest goods.

The birth of a new organization which has a mission to
perform in the world may occur in most humble and obscure
circumstances. In fact, it usually does so occur, but it is nev-
ertheless of interest even in its least important details.

Genesis of the Society.

The
Story
of a
Birth.

In describing the birth of the first society of Christian
Endeavor I think I cannot do better than to quote the story
as written out by me some years since,* when the circumstances
were freshly and vividly in mind: —

The second day of February, 1881, proved to
be one of the bitterly cold days in the calendar of
the year; and Maine knows something about cold
weather, as my readers who have the good fortune
to live in the Pine-Tree State can testify. Snow covered the
ground and the house-tops, and glitter- ^,~^-,.^

ing icicles like stalactites of diamonds \

hung on the eaves.

The crisp snow creaked under the
runners of the flying sleighs, and the
coasting and skating were excellent.
But in spite of these outdoor attractions
of a northern winter the young people
accepted an invitation from their pastor
and his wife to come to the parsonage.
Various savory and spicy odors
from the kitchen were wafted upwards
to the pastor's study throughout the
morning of that day, for the Mizpah
Circle were coming to tea, and the pastor's wife desired to
treat them with due hospitality.

In the afternoon some forty girls and boys, with a few
young ladies, gathered for the usual meeting of the Mizpah
Circle, and after tea were joined by their older brothers and
sisters. Conspicuous among the older ones were Mr. W. H.
Pennell and his fine Sunday-school class of young men. After
a little general conversation as to the importance of starting
right, of working for the church, and of showing one's colors
for Christ on all occasions, the pastor with a good deal of hesi-

* In " World-Wide Endeavor."

IMrs. Francis E. Clark.

36 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

tation produced a constitution whiose germs had lain in his
mind for a long while, but which he had written out for the
first time that day.

He was afraid that its strenuous covenant would not com-
mend it to the young people, that they would be afraid of its
strictly religious character, that they would not find enough
of the oyster-supper and "pink-tea" element in it to win their
approval ; but ever since his weak faith and lack of knowledge
of young hearts have been rebuked by their acceptance of this
constitution and by the loyal adhesion to it of millions of like-
minded youth.

^(^g It was proposed in this document, which the

Object minister that morning brought down from his study,

and the fe fa J )

Member= that the society should be called the "Williston
''*' Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor."

Its object was declared to be "to promote an earnest Christian
life among its members, to increase their mutual acquaintance,
and to make them more useful in the service of God." It pro-
vided also that there should be two classes of members, "ac-
tive and associate," the active members being those who sin-
cerely desired to accomplish the results above specified, and
the associate members those who were not willing to consider
themselves decided Christians, but who desired the privileges
and companionships of the society.

The leading committees were defined in the same way
as they are now defined in the constitution of the Society, and
it was soon provided that they should make a report to the soci-
ety at the monthly business-meeting concerning the work of
the past month. But, as in these days, so also in that early day,
everything pivoted on the prayer-meeting. The most impor-
tant clause of the constitution related to the prayer-meeting,
which stated, ''It is expected that all the active members of
this society will he present at every meeting unless detained
by some absolute necessity, and that each one will take some

Genesis of the Society. 37

part, however slight, in every meeting." This sentence was
underscored; and, when the constitution was printed, it was
put in italics, which symbolizes the way in which it has been

CONSTITUTION.

Fac-5iinile of Original Constitution.

COPrRlGHT, 1895

The Genesis of Christian Endeavor.
Facsimile of the First Page of the Original Constitution.

engraved, underscored, and italicized on the heart of the
Christian Endeavor movement from that day to this.

Moreover, this article concerning the prayer-meeting
went on to state that once each month an experience-meeting

38 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

should be held, "at which meeting each member shall speak
concerning his progress in the Christian life for the
Piv^otai past month." "If any one chooses, he can express
Meeting. J^-^ fge^jj^gg j^y ^n appropriate verse of Scripture."
"It is expected, if any one is obliged to be absent from this
experience-meeting, he will send his reason for absence by
some one who attends." Moreover, at the close of the month-
ly experience-meeting, the constitution specifies that "the roll
shall be called, and the response of the active members who
are present shall be considered a renewed expression of alle-
giance to Christ. If any member is absent from the monthly
experience-meeting and fails to send an excuse, the lookout
committee is expected to take the name of such a one, and in
a kindly and brotherly spirit ascertain the reason of the
absence. If any member of this society is absent and
unexcused from three consecutive experience-meetings, such a
one ceases to be a member of the society, and his name shall be
stricken from the list of members." v'

It will be noticed, that, word for word, this original con-
stitution has in all important particulars been followed by the
vast majority of the almost numberless millions of copies of
constitutions printed since, though there is no compulsion in
this matter, and every society may frame its own constitution
in general conformity to the Christian Endeavor idea. The
object of the Society was defined in the same way then as now.
The two classes of members were distinguished from each
other by the same definition then as now. The committees, so
far as they were outlined at all, were assigned the same duties
in that original constitution as they now assume wherever
they are found.

The provision for the consecration-meeting was complete
from the first, and the same words are used now as then, with
the exception that it was in those days called an "experience-
meeting," a name which was often applied to it for some years,

Genesis of the Society. 39

but which was afterwards dropped for the broader and more
significant term "consecration-meeting."

This, then, was the document which the pastor on that
cold February evening brought down-stairs to his young peo-
ple. No wonder that he felt in some doubt as to whether they
would accept its strong and iron-clad provisions. With a
good deal of natural hesitation he presented it to them, and
read the constitution through, page by page.
How ^ deathly stillness fell upon the meeting.

t*^^ .^ ^. Those strict provisions were evidently more than the

Constitution . ^ -^

was young people had bargained for. They had not

Received. , ^ j , , i i • i • • i •

been accustomed to take their religious duties so
seriously. Nothing of the sort had ever been heard of in that
church, or, to their knowledge, in any church, before. To
some of them it seemed that more was expected of them than
of the deacons even, and other officers of the church; and they
felt keenly their own inexperience and awkwardness in Chris-
tian service.

It was simply a company of average young people. Not
many mighty, not many learned, were there; but this company
was another of the weak things which God used to confound
the mighty. These young men and women were as bashful,
as timid and retiring, as any similar company probably.
Among them was not a single unpleasantly precocious young
Christian. There was no prig in all that room, imbued with
the smug consciousness that he was "not as other men."

They were active, energetic, fun-loving young people,
just such as can be gathered in any church to-day.

But they were Christian young people. Their hearts
were touched by love for Him who gave Himself for them,
and they sincerely desired to do His will.

As I said, a considerable and painful silence fell upon
the meeting when this constitution with its serious provisions
was proposed. It seemed as if the society would die still-born.

40 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

and be simply a creature of the pastor's imagination. But
God ordered it otherwise. In that company were two who
were especially influential and helpful in launching the little
craft. These were Mr. W. H. Pennell, before mentioned,

/^
//.

yd:

j6.

//OUa.^*^^^c^

First Twenty Names of the Original Members.

and the pastor's wife. Seeing that the matter was likely to fall
through, at least for that meeting, Mr. Pennell affixed his sig-
nature to the constitution, and called upon his class of young

Genesis of the Society. 41

men to do the same. Mrs. Clark quietly circulated among
the girls of the Mizpah Circle, persuading them that it was not
such a "dreadful" promise to make as they at first supposed,
telling them that any earnest young person could live up to the
provisions of this constitution, and promising herself to be an
active member, though at first she shrunk from the pledge as
much as any of them.

One by one the young men and women affixed their names to
the document, a few more minutes were spent in conversation,
a closing prayer was offered and a hymn sung, and the young
people went out into the frosty night to their homes, with many
a merry "Good-night," "Good-night," to each other; and the
first society of Christian Endeavor was formed.

CHAPTER III.

SOME FIRST THINGS.

THE FIRST PRAYER-MEETING, THE FIRST LEADERS^
THE FIRST SOCIAL GATHERINGS, AND THE FIRST COM-
MITTEES ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS CHAPTER.

" This admirable movement has alreadj^ survived the peril
of being a ' novelty.' There is a cemetery for religious and
benevolent enterprises just at that point where novelty dies out,
and plenty of them have had Christian burial in that ' potter's
field.' By God's good guidance and rich blessing the Christian
Endeavorers have left that fatal spot far behind, and are
marching on, two million strong. May the societies live on, to
march into the millennial morning with colors flying and the
dear name of the Crucified on every ensign."

Rev. Theodore Cuyler, D.D., in l8p4.

LTHOUGH the first society of Christian Endeav-
or was born, it had not yet begun its work, nor
had it proved its right to live. The easiest thing
in the world to do is to start a new organization.
It requires little genius or foresight, and no tact
and patient persistence. But to keep an organization alive, to
foster it so that it shall increase in strength and stature and in
favor with God and man — that is difficult. Thousands
of young people's organizations, in the church and out, have
been born only to die an inglorious death, ''unwept, unhon-
ored, and unsung." Such organizations had been started be-
fore in Williston Church, and had come to their natural end
in a longer or shorter space of time. These failures caused
the new organization to be looked upon, even by its warmest
friends and advocates, with something of doubt and fear, if not

Some First Things. 43

of distrust. Would it go the way of all the others? Would
it flourish famously for a few weeks, and then "peter out," in
^ the expressive language of the boys of that period?

E^^'dm nt ^^ ^"^ could answer these questions, or pretended
to. The new society was an acknowledged experi-
ment, but an experiment undertaken modestly, but with trust
in God for results, and with "faith triumphant o'er our fears."
The first prayer-meeting of the society was held a few
days after the organization described in the last chapter, and
on a Friday evening, the regular eve-
ning for the young people's meeting in
that church. The pastor, at least, went
to that meeting with not a little anxiety.
He had staked much in his own mind
upon this new organization. It was,
he almost felt, his last hope ; for he had
tried other plans of interesting, enter-
taining, and thus winning the young
people, with very indifferent success.
But this first prayer-meeting of the
new society surpassed his fondest ex-
pectations. It was a revelation, to him
and to all who attended it, of what a ^- J- ^''" P^"^"-

young people's meeting might be. Nothing like it before had
ever been held in Williston Church, noted as that church was,
in limited circles, at least, for its good prayer-meetings.

A young man * was in the chair as leader of that first meet-
ing, who was experienced and gifted in such service ; but he did
not have to do it all, or exhort any one to "occupy the time," or
overwork the hymn-book in efiforts to prevent the hour from
dragging too wearily. For the first time in the history of that
church, at least, all who attended the meeting felt some obliga-
tion to sustain it. They were not eloquent or wise, these

* Mr. Granville Staples, the first president of the society.

44 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

young people; but the meeting was theirs in a peculiar sense,
and they were there not merely to listen and absorb, but to give
out and to help.

The result was that, instead of the three or four little ser-
monettes and long prayers which had heretofore filled up the
hour of the young people's meeting, forty young
First people, more or less, with Scripture verses and sen-

me^etfne. tences of prayer, and some of the more experienced
with longer testimonies or exhortations, were heard
in those precious and prophetic sixty minutes devoted to the
first genuine Christian Endeavor prayer-meeting.

The singing, too, took on new life and vigor; for it was
their own singing; their own chosen hymns were suggested; in
fact, in every sense it was their own meeting. It was evidently
the little clause relating to the prayer-meeting which had
wrought this marvellous change. This clause, which was
afterwards expanded into the prayer-meeting pledge, read as
follows :

"It is expected that all the members of the society will be
present at every meeting, unless detained by some absolute
necessity, and that each one will take some part, however
slight, in every meeting."

But this meeting, though the first, was by no means the
hist of t'^e series, nor was it the best, for each successive meet-
ing seemed to grow in interest and power. Numbers in-
creased rapidly. Young men and women who never thought
of going to a prayer-meeting before were attracted to this
one. When they came once, they came again, and often were
soon enrolled as earnest Christians and active members of the
society. The halting, stumbling, btSt genuinely sincere, utter-
ances of these young disciples, the heartiness of their singing,
the very Scripture verses which they made their own as they
brought them to the meeting, gave new power and a perennial
interest to a meeting which before had often been a dragging

Some First Things. 45

discouragement to pastor and young people alike. No longer
now did the pastor look forward with apprehension to the
Friday evening meeting, but with eager anticipation as to a
place where he should himself gain spiritual help and new
courage for his work, and in which his part, if he chose, might
be as slight as that of the youngest boy.

In fact, though always present and always participating,
he rarely led a meeting, preferring to sit with the young men
as one of them, and giving the responsibility and educational
advantage of leadership to those who needed it most, some-
times the very youngest boys and girls in the society.

Of course it will not be supposed that a high order of lit-
Spread= crary merit was always attained in these meetings,
eagle nor that the graces of fluent eloquence and oratory

Oratory ...

Discour= were often exhibited. In fact, eloquence and ora-
^^^ * tory were rather discouraged, and anything like

bombastic spread-eagleism would have seemed too absurd to
be indulged in such a time and place.

There were, to be sure, a few among the older members
who were educated, experienced, and gifted ; but it was under-
stood by all that the young people's meeting was no place to
display gifts or graces of speech, but simply for outspoken ac-
knowledgment of the religious purpose, a place for the ex-
pression, however poor and halting the words used, of the
dominant purpose of life to serve Christ and to help others.

This thought entirely revolutionized the prayer-meeting
idea of that church so far as the young people were con-
cerned. It was not a place primarily for instruction, for
learned essays or homilies, or even for "edification" in the old-
fashioned sense of that term. It w^as a place for arousing the
dormant religious life, for training and practice in the expres-
sion of that life, for the development of courage in acknowl-
edging one's convictions, of sympathy for those who were
struggling forward on the same up-hill road to the Celestial

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

City, and of encouragement to the weakest and humblest who,
thus comparing notes, as it were, with others in the same stage
of religious development, would gain a help that they could
never get from the learned and the experienced.

In my opinion the true prayer-meeting idea a quarter of a
century ago was in danger of being lost, as indeed it is now in
some individual churches. The idea of instruction was dom-
inating it. It had become the unwritten law in many a church

iSIF ITS PASTOR. ESTABLISH ED Of:

i-^sr SOCIETY or christ

5 SPOT THE SOCIETY HAS SPH,
iiNDERTHE PROViDENCr OFO
"^TH IN EVERY LAND. C 't I R.

EUROPE, AFRICA.

ilETHANNFVERS/.

\RY SECQND.lOOUiAv,

iRISTIANENDEAVGR./
. JR. CH Rl STANDI: _ - ,

iHS»p»'W<»*?"iW«5"

•T!?!

iii)jii|ji)iii f i^iwy^wy^ww

Memorial Tablet,
Williston Church, Portland, Me.

that only those who were gifted and well educated could '^take
part to edification" in the prayer-meeting.

This idea had already borne disastrous fruit in many a
church which had practically given up the social midweek
meeting free to all for participation, and had substituted the
midweek lecture, practically another little sermon to burden
the pastor, and often to prove of small benefit to the few who
heard it. But the radical idea that there was a place for all
in the young people's meeting, and a part that all could take,
however timid, bashful, or ignorant, revolutionized and re-

Some First Things. 47

vivified that dying young people's meeting in Williston
Churchi, as it has done to many another wherever the Chris-
tian Endeavor idea has extended.

As has been said, not only were the youngest and most
Youne inexperienced young people expected to take part

Leaders in the meeting, but they were expected to lead it as
Christian well; and this leadership of the weak proved by no
means weak leadership, for with redoubled readi-
ness and earnestness the others w^ould rally to the help of their
inexperienced and sometimes sadly flustrated companions; and
all would pronounce this meeting at the end the very best
of all.

, One of these early meetings I remember w^ith peculiar
interest because of the entire inadequacy of the leadership
from the oratorical point of view. It was the first attempt of
this boy of thirteen or fourteen, who had but just begun the
Christian life. The subject of the meeting was "Christian
Heroism," or willingness to endure ridicule for Christ's sake.
The boy leader gave out the hymn, and stumbled through the
Scripture passage, evidently in great trepidation; but, when
it came to giving his few words of explanation or exhortation,
his ideas evidently forsook him. "If you are a Christian, — "
he began, and could get no further. "If you are a Christian,
— " he said once more, and there was another pause. "What
you scared of, anyway?" was his only comment, and he sat
down, doubtless inwardly covered with shame and confusion
of face.

But it proved to be a capital opening for the meeting.
The young leader had shown his own determination and cour-
age, and that was better than a well-ordered and eloquent dis-
course on Christian heroism. The youngest and weakest felt
that they could do as well as he; and so the meeting went
on from start to finish with prayer and song and testimony and
Scripture quotation, far more successfully, doubtless, than if

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

the pastor or one of the elders had sat in the chair, and direct-
ed the thought of the young people.

It must not be supposed that all the meetings were of
exactly this type. There were skilled leaders for some of
them; sometimes the opening thought was contained in a brief
written essay; and the pastor and a few older Endeavorers
were always present to give the meeting the right turn if inex-
perience or timidity went hopelessly wrong. In fact, there
was an infinite variety to these meetings, which was one of
their perpetual charms.

But there were other "first things" in this new society
besides the first prayer-meeting. This society did not expend
all its energies upon the weekly meetings any more than its
thousands of successors. This was rather the power-house
where were obtained the spiritual energy and fervor which
turned all the wheels of the society.

The first social gathering was quite as success-
ful in its way as the first prayer-meeting. A social
committee had been appointed at the very outset,
and this committee felt it to be its bus-
iness and privilege to make this first
sociable as interesting and helpful to
all as it could possibly be made. No
wallflowers were allowed to adorn the
sides of the room. No little groups
and cliques were expected to spend the
evening together to the neglect of their
companions. It was a bright, breezy,
entertaining gathering; and all went
away feeling that a new social centre
for the young people had been found,
and that centre the church to which
they belonged.

Rev. C, A. Dickinson. D. D. ^ . , r ■, n , • ,

Los An<:-eies Cai Another of the nrst thmgs was the

The

First

Sociables.

Some First Things. 49

missionary committee with its activities. The Mizpah Circle,
before alluded to, had trained the girls and the younger boys in
missionary activities; and it was not hard for them to under-
stand that to work for others was quite as essential a feature of
the new young people's society as to pray among themselves.
Pledge-cards for collecting missionary money were at once in-
troduced, and the outlook of the society from the very first day
embraced not only Portland and its charities, and the needs
of America, but extended to India, China, Africa, and the
islands of the sea; a prophecy, as it now seems, of the way in
which this little society, looking out from Williston Church
to the very ends of the earth, should soon go out into these
distant countries to promote their evangelization and civili-
zation.

Other committees to turn the musical ability of the soci-
First ^^^ ^^ good account, to beautify the pulpit with

Coni= flowers, to visit the sick and poor, and to welcome

mittees. ^ , ,

strangers, were soon formed as the necessary out-
growth of the Christian Endeavor idea; and on that very
first evening the lookout committee, which has proved so
potent a factor in the life and growth of the whole move-
ment, was inaugurated.

Its name indicates its purpose. It was to look out over
the whole field of the society, and far beyond its borders. It
was to find new members, and bring them in and introduce
them to the work and to the workers. It was to be a kind of
outside conscience to the indifferent and careless, to remind
them of their duties, and to win them back to their allegiance.
In a sense, indeed, this was the great fly-wheel of the society,
which was to keep all the other wheels running. Its duties
and offices were perhaps quite as original as any other feature
of the new organization, and it has proved an indispensable
adiunct wherever the Christian idea has found its way.

These first social gatherings, first missionary enterprises,
4

50 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

first meetings, first committees, were only the first in a long
series of growingly successful efforts to help the young and
train them for Christ in Williston Church. The secret, if not
of perpetual motion, at least of perpetual rejuvenation and
renewal of energy seemed to have been discovered. This
new society did not wane and dwindle as others had done be-
fore it. The love of the members did not wax cold; or, if
some lost their first energy and impulse for service, others
were added, and laggards were revived, so that the numbers
and zeal of the society steadily held their own or advanced.

The minister did not have to push, and prod, and exhort,
and in the end carry the burden himself; but it was dis-
tributed on so many younger shoulders that half of his own
previous load was carried by them; and, with the young peo-
ple to do the work and take the leadership in many
^^earing activities, he could nevertheless be the unseen
BurdeiT*^* power behind them, keeping his hands on the reins
to guide the little chariot where he deemed best,
and always keeping in touch with his young people, as he
had never been able to do before they were thus carefully
organized for Christian service.

In other words, an organization as nearly self-governing
and self-propagating as any organization can be had come
into existence in Williston Church, and the problem which
had exercised the heart of this pastor and thousands of others
had in a measure been solved. It is not out of place to add
here, perhaps, that after a quarter of a century the original
society is still as strong and vigorous as ever. The minister
who formed the society remained with them for only about
three years after its organization. Three others have suc-
ceeded him, and to-day their honored pastor* declares that the
society is still as his own right hand, that the young people
are unswervingly loyal and true to their obligations. Genera-

=^Rev. Smith Baker. D.D.

Some First Things. 51

tion has succeeded generation, for the generations in a young
people's society are necessarily short-lived; but the original
spirit animates the Williston young people of to-day. They
have recently raised among themselves a thousand dollars for
their beautiful new parish house, and in all activities for their
society, for their church, and the "regions beyond" they main-
tain all the zeal and devotion of the original Endeavorers.

CHAPTER IV.
THE EXODUS OF THE SOCIETY.

HEREIN IS FOUND THE STORY OF THE BEGINNING OF
THE SECOND SOCIETY, AFTER EIGHT MONTHS OF TEST-
ING OF THE FIRST IN THE WILLISTON CHURCH, AND
THE EARLIER EVENTS WHICH HASTENED THE EXODUo
INTO ALL THE WORLD.

" The coming historian will characterize the nineteenth
century as The Age of New Forces. He will make mention
of steam and electricity, and of their wonderful application
and adjustments in the industrial world. He will have some-
thing to say about dynamite and of the part it played in en-
forcing peace. But he will dwell with vastly greater emphasis
on certain new forces and new adjustments of religious things,
such as the Sunday-school, the missionary propaganda, the tem-
perance reform, women's work, and the Endeavor movement.
Nor is the last the least. It stands for the transfusion of
youthful blood ; it means the mobilization of the Christian
army; it marks an awakening as distinct as the Crusades and
immensely more momentous."

Rev. David J. Burrell, D.D., New York City.

HE exodus of the Society of Christian Endeavor
from its original home was unlike that of the
Israelites in that it was no forced matter com-
pelled by hard taskmasters who would hold it
back from any Promised Land. There was
always the utmost readiness on the part of that society to
share with others the good things which God gave to it, but
its plans and methods were never forced upon another church
or upon the attention of the world. The Society went out
because it could not stay at home. It illuminated othei

The Exodus of the Society. 53

churches than Williston and other towns than Portland for
the same reason that a candle gives its light. It could not
help it.

And yet for eight months the Christian Endeavor idea in
its modern form was confined to Williston Church. It needed
such a period of probation and testing before its value was
sufficiently assured to be recommended to others. But by
that time it had not only "felt its feet," to use a nursery phrase
appropriate to such an infant society, but was ready to walk
and leap beyond the borders of its own church home.

By that time nearly thirty weekly prayer-meetings had
been held, and with very few exceptions they had all been
marked by spiritual power, and had proved of real
Tpl'^g and lasting benefit to all the members. By that

Testin time, too, the monthly roll-call meeting, which at

first was called an "experience-meeting," had
proved its supreme value in once a month facing the young dis-
ciples with the question of their progress or decline in the
Christian life. The very calling of the names, as of those
who had committed themselves to the service of the Master
and to upholding the honor of His church, had a remarkable
restraining and elevating influence, and it had come to be
thought of, as it has since been frequently called, "the crown-
ing meeting." The committees, too, several new ones having
been added since that February night which has already been
described, were working effectively and without friction; and
their monthly written reports showed what they had at least
endeavored to do in Christ's name and for His church.

The experimental days were by no means over, but the
new plans had been sufficiently tried to permit a modest recital
of them in The Congregationalist newspaper, under the title,
"How One Church Looks after its Young People." This
article, which was merely a brief description of the methods
and plans of the Society of Christian Endeavor, now so well

54 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

known, brought me an unexpected correspondence. I expect-
ed to hear no more from this than from any other newspaper
article; and, as every writer knows, that is usually very little.
But this article seemed to be on a subject which was exercising
the minds of many.

A reprint of the article in The Sunday-School Times and
other papers in England and America increased the
Appearance Correspondence concerning this new organization,
'". though it was some years before any fruit appeared

in Great Britain. So many were the requests for
information that it was soon found necessary to print with a
gelatine pad some copies of the constitution which the Willis-
ton Society had adopted, to send to inquiring friends.

But even then it never occurred to any one, certainly not
to the writer, that the subject would prove of general interest,
or that it would ever be worth while to spend any money for
printers' ink in making known the principles of the Society.
Those early days of small expectations stand out in vivid con-
trast to these days that mark the close of the first quarter-cen-
tury of the movement.

Now the constitution, which was then printed by the
laborious and imperfect hectograph process, is multiplied by
a million copies every year, and is calculated not in one lan-
guage only, but in fifty. The principles which were then
regarded as entirely experimental, adapted possibly to the
church where they originated and to a few others of a similar
character, are now confidently recommended not only to Amer-
icans and to the churches of the Pilgrim order, but to liturgical
and non-liturgical churches, to English and French, Spaniards
and Scandinavians, to the Teutons and the Slavs alike, to the
Orientals as well as Occidentals. And not without reason
or in a spirit of boastfulness is the Society thus commended,
but because during these twenty-five years it has proved its
adaptability to all these races and its ability to do for young

The Exodus of the Society.

people everywhere, if it is given a fair chance, what it had
already done for the young people of Williston Church.

The reason for this universal adaptability must lie not in
any wisdom of methods, but in the principles that underlie
these methods. It is inconceivable that any mere form or
plan of church-work that was not based on fundamental and
universal principles could have thus succeeded so quickly in
finding its way into every land and language.

CARD OP MEMBERSHIP.

CU T ^ .(^ ^ ^ ^ f^ iX>(

jpl^eo CDQj^git G^Qj ^^fiiTest^ssiiU nwS^ isir^f cr^ssr Q^FtuujQeuesirCBQLneBrtnt

^aientr Q/sirdQ QBiSjfgj Qen/iu) ai''&^eieii(^Oeuek erarj>u>, ereir ^aisrreo

SHU) aiira(SfdQan(BdBQpair. ^(5 Qifliuir ^eaiuQiuins erdr ai^eawaisirQiuM'
e^tTLo K^emaawujiTiLi iSee>pQaippei)u>, erek sit^^q^ld ^eigi—ai((hLDi'@LU ^dius-

fiirSfSlU) uiii^QujDetjt}) eifTd^dQsir(Sd@<:peir. wrr/faii^B fifliSsr^£i>€aL.»
^^L-i—fiPfl^ eiinru>^Qr)de Oeieiri^jfiiTiiS(i^d(^u>QuirQgf!, s>.(Swir(a)ei jfuuLf.
eijiTpQd(^ia aimesur/ieofi^ a^iiafifiirQ^d^^ O^ifisEuQuek.

S^uiSuih — , -..- _ esnaOiui^^^. -

TAMIL.

The Cliristian Endeavor Covenant in Tamil.

But here is the secret: The Society in every part, in
pledge and prayer-meeting, in its committees and all its activ-
ities, is based on these principles. The young Christian has
implanted within him something of devotion to the highest
ideals and a desire to attain them. The very words "conver-
sion" and "Christian" are empty and meaningless
Principles, unlcss this is true. This devotion must find expres-
sion in word and deed. "No impression without
expression," is the latest word of the psychologist. Reduced

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

to ordinary phrase, the young Christian to grow in grace must
practise the Christian graces. He must give out as well as
receive. He must exercise as well as eat. He must not be
ashamed of his religion, or unwilling to sacrifice himself for
his Master. The Christian Endeavor Society simply says: "I
will show these young Christians how they may work and
how they may speak for Him whom they have begun to serve.
I will provide an easy and natural channel for the expression
by word and deed of their religious life."

Human nature is the same the world around, whatever be
the color of the skin, the environment, or the heredity. To
be a Christian means the same thing on the Congo that it
means in Chicago; in Laos as in London the service of Christ

i
i

'm^

m ^ r <■ 4 '^' .y-v ^^ iiH V X ^

L 't ^ 6 /./ > X /^ f/S 'f ^ - ^^

^ I- f isi: m .-^ ^ '^' ^ x^ -^ <■ M in ^ ^

^ ^ ^- f mm J. - ^\-\ u^ ^ ^' ^ ^ m

^, - 4^ ^ t- •= ^ ^ y^\^ » ^ u m ^' ^

m -= / ^ '^ -^ m m jf m "$ "^ <• M ■= m

^- * ? ^ ^ -l^ ^J ^ #i L

-4^ qf qp ^

* M ^ fiH ? <• ia ^' li? ^ ^< "^ J. m m
^ i-^ mi^m 4 0 ^ ^/ i? ^ - - 51 #

JAPANESE.

The Christian Endeavor Covenant in Japanese.

calls for the same qualities of sincerity and devotion; and so
an organization which made this appeal to the young people
finds itself as much at home on the banks of the Nile or the
Yang-tse-kiang as it does on the shores of the Connecticut or
the Thames.

The Moses of the new movement, if we may so call him,

The Exodus of the Societyo 57

who first led it out into a new field of activity, was Rev.
Charles Perry Mills, of the North Church in Newburyport,
Mass.

Mr. Mills, who some years ago passed on to his abundant
reward, was from the very beginning of his most useful career
an enthusiastic advocate of the organization. After many
years of labor among his own young people, recalling a full
decade of happy service in his Christian Endeavor society, he
characteristically wrote : —

"In the first voyage which the young Christian Endeavor
child undertook, it passed successfully from port to port, from
Portland to Newburyport, where it was warmly adopted be-
cause of its comely beauty and promising vigor. That Chris-
tian Endeavor was of spiritual origin and destined to become
a providential movement may be gathered from the similarity
of the occasions that called into being the first and second soci-
eties. The Newburyport pastor, the first winter of his pas-
torate, 1 88 1, had the happiness to see a revival that resulted in
the conversion of a goodly number of young people, a revival
that was simultaneous with the one that occurred in the Port-
land church, that produced similar results, and that led to the
formation of the first society, and then, when the plan of the
first was known, to the second. The spiritual chords were
vibrating in unison, all unconsciously, between these two sea-
port cities seventy miles apart on the Atlantic coast. . . .
It was divinely given to Dr. Clark to originate the motion;
the Newburyport pastor has always felt special gratitude that
his life has been signalized by the opportunity given him to
second the motion. If a motion is made and not seconded,
that is one sign that it is without wisdom, or that the time is not
ripe. But, when the motion is seconded, it is then open for
discussion and adoption. The Williston plan was seconded
because it was motion, an advance method over existing organ-
izations for the training of the young."

58 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Mr. Mills's "second" of the Williston motion was quickly
followed by others, and before the new year of 1882 dawned
there were at least three or four other societies, one in a Chris-
tian church in Rhode Island, another in the St. Lawrence/
Church of Portland, still another in Burlington, Vt. ; and then
the list began to increase so rapidly that the exact order could
no longer be kept recorded.

Demands upon the parent society and its pastor for infor-
mation concerning the work became more and more numer-
ous. A private bureau of information was practically estab-
lished, whose expense was largely divided between Mr. W. H.
Pennell, the first signer of the constitution, and the pastor.
The constitution was printed, and one or two leaflets were
prepared to save busy men the labor of an overburdening cor-
respondence. But even then there was no thought of any
large or permanent movement as resulting from the Williston
experiment. How could such development come from such
a tiny mustard seed? How could the branches from so insig-
nificant and inconspicuous a tree extend into all the world?
The idea, if it had occurred to any one in those days, would
have seemed quite absurd. There were hundreds of more in-
fluential churches and wiser pastors throughout the country,
who could with far more promise of success start such a move-
ment.

But again God chose the "foolish things of the world to
confound the wise, and . . . the weak things of the world
to confound the things which are mighty, . . . that no
flesh should glory in his presence."

One event which hastened the exodus of the Christian
Endeavor Society was doubtless a little convention or "confer-
ence," as it was then modestly called, which was held in Wil-
liston Church on the second of June, 1882. This conference
was certainly "the day of small things" from the modern con-
vention standpoint. But it is significant that before the first

The Exodus of the Society. 59

society was eighteen months old it should call together its few
friends and neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me." This gath-
ering was a forecast, small and insignificant as it was, of one
of the great means which have been used of God in promot-
ing the exodus of the Christian Endeavor idea. It is not too
much to say that the Society has introduced a new era of con-
ventions. It has popularized to an amazing extent the great
religious convocation, and that little gathering in Williston
Church on that early June day was the John the Baptist of
the mighty gatherings, thirty, forty, and fifty thousand strong,
that have assembled in Boston and New York and San Fran-
cisco and London, and which, with magnificent numbers and
enthusiasm, now assemble year by year in almost every Prot-
estant country in the world.

Six societies, with less than five hundred members, were
represented at this first conference; but it was known that a
few others existed. From Bath, thirty-five miles from Port-
land, one society sent representatives, all the other delegates
coming from the city of Portland, which by that time had four
flourishing societies, the Williston being the largest and report-
ing 168 members. It was thought remarkable, indeed, that
any one should be enough interested in the society to journey
the thirty miles or so necessary to bring the delegates from
Bath to Portland, and their devotion was favorably com-
mented on. But these few journeying delegates were typical
of a great host which was soon to begin to make its annual
pilgrimage to the Christian Endeavor convention.

A few years later, at about the same time of year, nearly
25,000 young people were journeying, not thirty miles, within
the boundaries of a single State, but most of them for three
thousand miles across the continent, to attend a similar conven-
tion in San Francisco. Delegates have been known to walk
for seven days over the hot plains and hills of Mexico for two
hundred miles or more, to reach their convention. Hundreds

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

crossed the ocean from America to England when the World's
Convention was held in the world's commercial capital. And
I have myself seen my Bengalese fellow Christian Endeavor-
ers reach their convention village very early in the morning,
after an all-night tramp to reach it, which they must repeat on
the following night, after the convention was over, in order

CARD OF MEMBERSHIP.

•T* g° » ;iM.

rfS» jSA>S^» "^ab . ed!6aSj£Jb4o '^;&rnax> "^ScSoS'&sSj^Stp

«90S)S

P&,.

■"^<?Ty*'*® ■

TJa.,,

TELUGU.

The Christian Endeavor Covenant in Teluyu.

to reach their homes, since there were few lodging-places in
the village.

The story of some of these conventions will be found in
other chapters, and I allude to them now only to show, by way
of contrast, vsdiat that first little convention became, for it had
within it the seed which developed by God's swift and mighty
evolution into the unparalleled religious gatherings of these
later days.

After all, the same spirit prevailed in that modest little
convention of 1882, the same themes were discussed, the same

The Exodus of the Society. 6i

fellowship was enjoyed, which have made memorable these
later gatherings. The little oak is very small as it peers from
the acorn, to be sure, and very insignificant; but it is an oak,
nevertheless. Its first leaf is an oak leaf. Its fibre is of the
texture of the giant parent, under whose shadow it grows, and
the same kind of sap. runs through its veins. So it was with
this earliest convention. It gave promise of the future. The
prayer-meeting and the consecration-service, the lookout com-
mittee, and the ways of winning others by the social gathering,
and the larger objects of the Society, its spirit, and its funda-
mental purposes, were all discussed.

The oldest minister of Portland, Dr. Holbrook, who was
then well beyond the Psalmist's threescore years and ten, was
chosen chairman of the conference, thus demonstrating that,
though this was a young people's society, largely composed of
young people and led by them, yet there was no age limit
which should prevent a young-hearted if gray-haired pastor
from being their leader, counsellor, and friend, a character-
istic fact which succeeding years have emphasized a thousand
times.

The first permanent organization of societies was then
efifected with Mr. W. H. Pennell for president, with a list of
vice-presidents, a secretary, and an executive committee, whose
chief duty was to provide for a conference to be held the fol-
lowing year.

I will not burden this history with the names of those who
were prominent at this time, and who became the officers and
the members of this very modest and informal organization.
Their names are recorded elsewhere, t and their work is held
in grateful and imperishable remembrance. It seems pro-
phetic that, small and insignificant as this conference appears
in the light of future events, yet a Portland religious paper *

t Many in " World-Wide Endeavor."
* TJic Christian Mirror.

62 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

published at the time should contain this paragraph, in closing
an account of the conference :

"May the time speedily come when every church in our
land shall cherish in its midst one of these societies of earnest
Christian Endeavor, full of faithful young workers, which in
turn shall add beauty and strength to its pillars, and prove an
honor to the church roll."

When we remember the few and small societies which
then existed, and the small likelihood that their number would
ever be very materially increased, it would seem that this was
written in the spirit of prophecy rather than of actual expecta-
tion based on human foresight. That in less than twenty-five
years this prophecy should be measurably fulfilled so far as
the Protestant churches of America are concerned could have
been discerned in 1882 only by the eye of faith.

Thus the Society went on and went out from its original
home. As the days passed by, the volume of the Christian
Endeavor stream rapidly grew larger and larger. Rivulets
began to pour into it from every State and Province in Amer-
ica, and it was not many years before they were joined by trib-
utaries from other countries whose story we must reserve for
another chapter.

CHAPTER V.

THE LINE OF MARCH.

FIRST OUTSIDE OF AMERICA THE SOCIETY FOUND ITS
WAY TO HONOLULU, THEN TO INDIA, THEN TO CHINA.
SOME RECENT EVENTS ARE CONTRASTED WITH THESE
EARLY BEGINNINGS.

" The three words that lie at the foundation of our com-
mon Christian conceptions are ' consecration,' ' fellowship,'
' service.' Christian Endeavor has made these words and what
they signify an integral part of the thought and faith of the
Christian young people of all lands. ' Consecration ' has be-
come their creed ; ' fellowship,' their ritual ; ' service,' their
practice. Under the impulse of such an organization the de-
vout young people of all nations in a united endeavor for a
world's redemption are exalting before the unbelieving and the
unevangelized the Christ they love and serve. This is the
crown and glory of the movement."

Rev. James L. Barton, D.D.,
Secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign

Missions.

|T this point of our story, since we have been de=
scribing the exodus of the Society into fields im-
mediately adjoining its original home, it seems
fitting to tell something about its line of march
into other lands, though the more detailed ac-
count of the development in these lands will be given in other
chapters.

Undoubtedly the first society formed outside of the North
American continent was the one in the Fort Street Church of
Honolulu. The Hawaiian Islands were then an independent

64 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

monarchy, though the American colony was large and influ-
ential, as it always has been since the days of the early mission-
aries. Rev. J. A. Cruzan, who was then the pastor of the
church, writes that the article already alluded to, "How One
Church Looks after its Young People," "drifted into his om-
nivorous scrap-book."

It is noticeable that the conditions existing in that church
in Honolulu were the very same as those in which the first
Endeavor society was born in Portland.

"Gracious revivals," wrote Mr. Cruzan, "in 1881-82 had
brought a large number of new-born souls into the Kingdom.
Many of these were young people, some of them young men
who have since helped to make history in Hawaii.
Outsi'de"^^ For the spiritual training of these young Christians
America there was organized a young people's meeting of the
type so well known a quarter of a century ago, and
of which in most cases it had to be sadly written, 'Ye did run
well ; who did hinder you?' Many things hindered this young
people's meeting in Honolulu, and the summer of 1883 proved
a welcome opportunity to allow it to die decently."

But the death of the old society made way for the birth
of the new, and the following November (1883) the society
was organized on Christian Endeavor lines, the first society in
Hawaii and the first outside of America.

"The iron-clad pledge was pared down somewhat," says
Mr. Cruzan, "and the usual result which follows the removal
of the spinal column ensued — collapse. But there was life in
the society, and it would not die. It was soon thoroughly re-
organized on strict Christian Endeavor lines. The Hon. W.
O. Smith, afterward the attorney-general of the republic of
Hawaii, was chosen president, and proved an admirable lead-
er. From that time forth this society has been an efficient
factor in the life of the church with which it is connected, of
the city of Honolulu, and of the little nation."

The Line of March.

66 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Thus wrote Mr. Cruzan something more than ten years
ago, and with added emphasis the last paragraph might be
written to-day. It is interesting to supplement his story with
a scene that came under my own observation about l;^ decade
after his words were written. The steamer on which I was
embarked with a companion for Australia steamed into the
jbeautiful harbor of Honolulu early one morning in January,
1904, and the first object that greeted our eyes was a substan-
tial steam-launch coming out to meet the steamer with a com-
pany of Christian Endeavorers on board. They wore their
yellow ribbon badges, and almost before the little launch was
made fast to the great steamer's side climbed up on deck bring-
ing the warm and abundant greetings of the Honolulu En-
deavorers. Here were the pastors of the churches of the sev-
eral nationalities, and other leading workers, both young men
and women. But they were only the prelude, as it were, to
^ the full orchestral welcome that awaited us a few

Memorable momcnts later at the pier, where was a throng of

Scene , t , t 1

in Endeavorers such as 1 have seldom seen gathered

in one small city, American Endeavorers and Ha-
waiian Endeavorers, Chinese and Japanese Endeavorers,
Portuguese also and some workers among the Koreans, who
expected soon to start a society for this nationality. Garlands
of leis were put about our necks, according to the Hawaiian
custom. The sweet Hawaiian song* of welcome was joined in
by all nationalities, and a little later in the great stone church
where the first society was started we heard each company of
Endeavorers, seated according to nationalities, and in their
own tongue, consecrate themselves anew to the Master's serv-

*" Hawaii's land is fair;

Rich are the gifts we share.
This is our earnest prayer,

O Lord of light,
That as a noble band
We maj' join heart and hand
Till all Hawaii's land

Stands for the right."

The Line of March.

ice. In the Hawaiian group was a stalwart company of sol-
dierly young men in their gray uniforms, from the society of
the Kamehameha school. In the Chinese section, both Juniors
and seniors were represented, as well as in the Japanese, and
the Portuguese Endeavorers were none the less enthusiastic in
their own way than the other nationalities for "Esforgo Chris-
tio."

Thus had the little one in Hawaii become a thousand.
Since that visit, though so recent, the growth of the Hawaiian
societies has been still more remarkable under the leadership

The Bridge of Ten Thousand Ages, Foochow.

of Judge Lyle Dickey, the president of the Hawaiian Christian
Endeavor Union, for in a single year the number of societies
increased by more than 1 16 per cent.

But Christian Endeavor was not to stop in its pilgrimage
when only half-way across the Pacific. Very soon after we
heard of its establishment in Honolulu news came that it had
reached the coast of Asia, and was becoming acclimated in
Foochow, China.

Rev. George H. Hubbard, a missionary of the American

68 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Board in China, was the pioneer of the society in the dis-
tant Orient. As a young man in his Connecticut
in home he had become practically acquainted with

China. ^j^^ working of the Society, and with a young man's

zeal to attempt hitherto untried experiments he concluded
to see whether it was adapted to the Chinese mind.

The response was emphatic and immediate. The society
in Foochow was a success from the first, though of course the
beginning, like all beginnings, was small and insignificant.
But the Chinese have a genius for organization; their guilds
and fraternities have made the society idea entirely workable
in their hands, and Christian Endeavor is finding an ever-in-
creasing opportunity and ever-enlarging field in the Celestial
Empire.

One of the side-lights upon the beginning of the work in
Foochow comes to us from an address of Mr. Ling, a gifted
young Chinese pastor, who, with no less wit than quaintness of
expression, when addressing a convention in Shanghai, re-
marked:

"As the gospel has spread, the devil has had to retreat.
Now that he has now^here to stay in Western countries, he has
come to China to live. In 1884 we started our first Christian
Endeavor society, the object of which is to drive him out of
China. If we succeed, he cannot go back to the West, but
must be driven into the Eastern sea, where he will meet the
fate of the Gadarene swine, who perished in the waters."

From 1884 to 1900 is not a very far cry, but what a growth
we note in the little organization w^hich in 1884 according to
Mr. Ling started to drive the devil out of China! It was
my good fortune to attend the All-China Convention of that
year, which assembled in the native city of the movement.
Before the convention actually began, with some of the mis-
sionaries and Chinese Christians who were particularly inter-
ested in the work, with Mr. Hubbard as leader, we all assem-

The Line of March. 69

bled in the moonlight on the spot where sixteen years before
the first little society had been formed. The house

Wonderful . , . , . , . 111 1

Growth in which It Started its career had been torn down,
China. ^^^ ^'^'^ could not, therefore, meet in the rooms of

its birth; but the next best thing was to stand in the
open air under the stars, and sing "Praise God from whom
all blessings flow."

The next day the first session of the convention was held
in the largest church of Foochow. More than a thousand
blue-gowned Celestials were gathered there; and, as the writer
was introduced, they all rose and, putting their hands high
above their heads, shook them at him in their own unique and
expressive way of giving welcome.

Before this, Mr. Hubbard, who is specially skilful in de-
vising pleasant reminders of the past, had provided me with a
little Chinese drum, and a rude gavel made from a beam of
the house in which the first society of Christian Endeavor in
China was started. This gavel and drum were to be used in
calling the convention to order, and were reminiscent of the
earliest days, when the Society, for lack of a better name, and
because of the difficulty of translating "Christian Endeavor"
into Chinese, was called in that tongue, "THE Drum-Around-
AND-Rouse-Up Society." The name perhaps was as rude as
the gavel; but it was significant, too, and exactly expressive
of one chief purpose of the Christian Endeavor Society, vigor-
ously to seek out and arouse to action the young Christians of
the world.

This convention, too, was notable in other ways, for it
showed in a remarkable way how, on mission ground espe-
cially, denominational differences can be sunk, and the widest
Christian fellowship prevail in a common organization. The
society started in China in a mission of the American Congre-
gationalists, but it soon spread into the Methodist and Church
of England missions, which occupy the same great field of the

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Fukien province, though, unhappily, as it seemed to many, the
Methodist societies had been changed at the request of home
authorities into Epworth Leagues, and were not so directly
concerned with the convention as the others. Yet this first
meeting was held in a Methodist church, the largest in the
city, and the missionaries of the Church of England were quite
as pronounced as the American missionaries in their interest
and advocacy of the Society, which has spread lo all their sta-
tions throughout the province. From Foochow the Society has

A Ragged Sunday-School, in Foochow, China.

spread into the remotest parts of China, as will be told in a
later chapter. Some of the delegates to this convention had
come many days' journey by the slow and primitive Chinese
land conveyances, or in the dreadful steerage of a
Chinese steamer, knowing perfectly well that when
they reached the convention they could understand
little or nothing that was said; for most of the addresses must

Heroic
Delegates

The Line of March.

necessarily be in the Foochow dialect, which was not familiar
to those from a distance.

"Why did you come?" I said to one young man, who had
travelled five hundred miles, and who spoke and understood a
different dialect. "Why did you come if you knew you could
not understand what was said?"

"O," he replied, with kindling eyes and a glowing smile,
"I would not have missed the convention for anything. I
never realized before that there were so many Christian people
in all the world. To be sure, I could not understand much of
what was said; but I knew the tunes that were sung, and I
could feel the spirit and atmosphere of the convention; and
these have been the most blessed days of all my life."

One of the eminent missionaries at this convention. Dr. J.
E. Walker, actually translated some of the addresses from
Foochowese into Mandarin, so that the
distant Chinese delegates might under-
stand them. A remarkable example
of the unifying power of Christianity,
which thus made even the Chinese
of different provinces acquainted with
one another, and united them in a com-
mon bond of fellowship and a common
organization. Thus again had the
little one of 1884 become the thousand
and the ten thousand of iqoo.

Of one more country I must speak
in this chapter. For at about the same
time when the Society found its way
to Hawaii and China it also made its
appearance in India, or rather in Ceylon, the spicy island to
the south of the great triangular peninsula. How interesting
and almost unbelievable were those reports that came of the
establishment of the first societies in different lands! "Can it

Miss A. Bli^^s,
Founder of the first so-
ciety in South Africa, at
Wellington in 1887.

72 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

be," the Endeavorers said to themselves, "that God has a use
for our little society in countries so strange and remote? Can
it be that our pledge and consecration-meeting can help the
dusky children of distant Asia?"
o . . We hardly dared to believe the good news at

lieginnings -^ o

•n _ first; but, as letters began to arrive with detailed ac-

counts of these beginnings of Christian Endeavor,
we came to believe that possibly the Society had a wider mis-
sion than we had dared to dream. Among these letters, so
surprising in their information, was one from Miss Margaret
Leitch of Ceylon, telling of the formation of a society among
the Tamil-speaking children of Jaffna. This could be called
in these days a Junior society, and the generosity of these early
Juniors has often stimulated to self-denial the Juniors at home,
as they have been told how the boys belonging to this first Cey-
lon society were accustomed to dedicate a cocoanut-tree to the
Lord's service, and to write upon the bark the letters which in
Tamil stood for Y. P. S. C. E. All the cocoanuts which grew
upon this tree, we were told, were given for missionary work
in other lands, while the girls who were too poor to afford a
tree dedicated a hen to the same purpose, and all her eggs and
chickens were sacred to missionary work.

The Society seems to have sprung up almost spontaneously
in several other parts of India; first of all, in the Arcot mission
of the Reformed Church, whose missionaries have always
been particularly active in advancing the cause. So small
were many of these beginnings, however, that they have left
but few records behind them. But all the greater is the con-
trast with the splendid growth and vigorous aggressiveness of
the Indian Endeavorers of the present day. Processions a
thousand strong and more march through the streets of the
convention cities, with streaming banners, and beating drums,
and loud, triumphant trumpets, according to the Indian
custom.

The Line of March. 73

"Who are these?" say the non-Christians one to another,
as they come rushing to doors and street corners as the pro-
, cession moves past.

"These are the Christian Endeavorers," proudly respond
the members of the Society. "They are meeting here in a
great convention, over a thousand strong. Their object is
to make India a Christian land. They have millions of
brothers and sisters in America and Europe and Australia
and all the world over. Come to the meetings, and hear what
they have to say, and listen to their singing, and learn the
Jesus way."

Often this invitation is accepted, and these great gather-
ings of enthusiastic Endeavorers in India, as in America,
leave a permanent impression behind them of the enthusiasm,
vigor, and aggressive earnestness of the young Christian of
the twentieth century. Thus again has the little one of
1883-84 in India become the thousand of to-day. May the
thousand of to-day become the million of to-morrow!

CHAPTER VI.
THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE.

THROUGH VERY HUMBLE INSTRUMENTS GOD ESTAB-
LISHED THE SOCIETY IN GREAT BRITAIN, AUSTRALASIA,
THE ISLANDS OF THE SEA, AND ON THE CONTINENT
OF EUROPE, AS THIS CHAPTER NARRATES.

" It is not possible to perpetuate for twenty-five years a re-
ligious movement requiring the co-operation of multitudes, and
to extend it around the globe, unless at its heart is something
more than the will and purpose of men, even the directing wis-
dom and impulse of the Divine Spirit."

Rev. Charles Cuthbert Hall, D.D.,
President of Union Theological Seminary.

'T is always a joy in this chronicle to record, as we
have frequent occasion for doing, the special
hand of Providence in guiding the beginnings
and the progress of the Christian Endeavor
movement; for, while it makes the human agen-
cies that have been concerned in it the less important, this
record shows the divine favor, and gives promise of perma-
nent results, for He who hath planted and hitherto cared for
the seed will scarcely allow it to droop and wither.

Even the most careless student of this historv, and the
most sceptical of those who study the ways of God with man,
can hardly have failed to see already the good hand of Provi-
dence in the Christian Endeavor movement. It is almost in-
conceivable that a society starting under these obscure
auspices, with no influential backing or ecclesiastical patron-
age, should have found its way so rapidly into so many lands
and so many denominations unless directly guided by a higher

7-'-

The Hand of Providence.

Leading British Endeavorers.

Rev. John Pollock,
President of the British C. E. Union.
Rev. Bishop Evelyn R. Hasse,
Ex-President of the British C. E. Union.

Rev. J. D. Lamont,
Ex.-President of the British C. E. Union.

Rev. W. Knight Chaplin,
Hon. Secretary of the British C. E. Union.

76 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

power than we could see at work with our eyes merely upon
the human chess-board.

Horace Bushnell has a powerful sermon on the subject,
"Every Man's Life a Plan of God." This title is true of hu-
man organizations as well as of human lives, and the further
story of the introduction of the Christian Endeavor move-
ment into Great Britain, Australia, and other lands, where it
soon made its way, shows in a remarkable manner the divine
care for small beginnings. "The romance of the insignifi-
cant" is characteristic of the beginnings of Christian En-
deavor in all lands.

One of the members of the first society in Port-
Beginnings 1 1 1 r -^ 11

in land before it was many years old was a young me-

Brfta^in. cliauic, who had recently come from Crewe in
England to try his fortune in the New World.
Being a member of the High Street Church of his native
English city, he soon found congenial friends among the
young people of Williston Church, and entered into their life
and religious activities. He was by no means a remarkable
young fellow, merely a bright young mechanic; but he could
write a letter. Few can do less than that. He soon wrote
to his former pastor in Crewe, the Rev. A. W. Potts, about
the new religious organization which he had found in Port-
land, which was called the Society of Christian Endeavor.
He suggested that perhaps such a society might be equally
good transplanted to English soil. The letter bore fruit, and
after a few months from its receipt by the pastor a similar
society was organized in the High Street Church of Crewe.
From this little seed the plant grew, not as rapidly, to
be sure, as in America; for there were certain prejudices and
traditions to overcome in the mother country, which were not
so strong in the younger nation. But still it grew, and in
1891, nine years after the first American convention was held,
the first English convention gathered in this same High Street

The Hand of Providence. "]"]

Church of Crewe. The pastor to whom years before this
young mechanic wrote his simple letter gave an abundant
welcome to the two American delegates* who attended it.

"Welcome, thrice welcome," said Mr. Potts, in his open-
ing address, "for you have come to undertake this great En-
deavor task. Welcome to all the toil and conflict of this
great movement; welcome to all the joy and the inspiration of
it also, and in the end may it please God to welcome us all
into heaven's higher fellowships, and to grant to us the final
rewards of our labor and victory."

The To this higher reward Mr. Potts was very soon

Convention Summoned. He lived but a short time after this;
Great ^^^ ''^^^ lifc-work had been done and well done, and

Britain. he will always be remembered as the earliest friend
and pioneer of the Society in Great Britain.

In this address of welcome he speaks, to be sure, of "this
great movement;" but it was by no means great at this time in
Great Britain. A few struggling, half-distrusted societies
existed in different parts of the United Kingdom, but there
was no concerted Christian Endeavor movement, which then,
and for some time afterward, sheltered itself under the
kind wing of the Sunday-school Union. This Union first
in 1888 invited the writer, and afterwards in 1891 invited
some American friendsf with him to present the claims of
the new movement to the British public.

So much for the small beginnings. But what a contrast
do we see now! A young man some twenty years ago wrote
a letter to his pastor in England. A little society resulted, in
a comparatively uninfluential church. Barely a dozen years
roll around, and we see the religious circles of London itself
moved by a mighty religious gathering of youth. From all

*The Rev. Charles A. Dickinson, D.D., and the Rev. Francis E. Clark, D.D.
fThe Rev. James L. Hill, D.D., the Rev. Neheniiah Boynton, D.D., the Rev.
C. A. Dickinson, D.D.

78 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

parts of the United Kingdom they pour into the capital. Eng-
land and Ireland and Scotland and Wales all send great
delegations. From America nearly two thousand Christian
Endeavorers reach the shores of Great Britain in spite of a
deplorable accident which burned their steamers and disar-
ranged their plans, just on the eve of embarkation. From
Australia and New Zealand come very considerable contin-
gents, and many countries of continental Europe are rep-
resented.

The Alexandra Palace is filled with a vast
^ throng of earnest young Christians; twenty thou-

Wonderful , . . • , , • , , \ ,

Contrast saud, it IS Said, being gathered under the crystal
1900. (jome at the same time, while great tents outside are
pitched to accommodate the overflowing throng. The great-
est pulpit orators of two continents assemble on the platform,
representing all the great denominations of Protestantism.
For this is the World's Christian Endeavor Convention of
1900.

At the same time Exeter Hall and the City Temple, the
Metropolitan Tabernacle and the Westminster Chapel, are
laid under contribution to accommodate the convention; and
on the Sunday in hundreds of churches of the metropolis are
preached eloquent sermons by representative Endeavorers,
concerning the principles and methods of the movement, for
there are more than six hundred* Christian Endeavor so-
cieties in London alone, and throughout Great Britain they
are numbered by the thousands, and their adherents by the
'hundred thousands. Who will say that in such growth the
hand of God cannot be seen?

About the time when the young man from Crewe wrote
the letter above mentioned, another young man sailed in his
father's ship from Newburyport. His father was the cap-

* The date of this convention was July, 1900. This number is now very
considerably increased.

The Hand of Providence.

Prominent British Endkavorers.

Mr. W. H. Hope, Rev. James Mursell,

Liverpool. Adelaide, So. Australia, formerly of Edinburgh.

Rev. Carey Bonner,

London.

Mr. Charles E. Waters, Rev. J. Brown Morgan,

London. Bradford.

8o Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

tain, and the young man, with health somewhat impaired,
took passage with him, hoping for restoration of health. But
God had other designs in that voyage than simply the renewal
of the health of one faithful young Christian, though that,
too, was accomplished.

Far-ofif Australia was the destined port of this
{Jg^ Newburyport ship, and the young Christian En-

Society deavor passenger, it is interesting to know, was a

Was JT o ; o 7

Carried member of that second society of which we have
Australia, already told in the "Exodus" chapter. This young
traveller has never made any pretensions to special
eloquence or wisdom. But like a thousand other young En-
deavorers he was faithful to his covenant pledge and his re-
ligious training, whether in New England or at the antipodes.
After the ship dropped anchor in the beautiful harbor of Bris-
bane the young American went ashore of course, and equally
of course he went to church, — for was not that in his pledge?
— and entered somewhat into the religious life of the town,
though his stay was but short.

It was long enough, however, for him to tell the Rev.
Mr. Whale, the pastor of the Baptist Tabernacle, and Mr.
G. H. Buzacott, another prominent Christian worker of Bris-
bane, of the new society which was making headway in
America, and whose principles and practices he knew so well
because of his personal work in the old North Church of
Newburyport.

There is nothing like personal knowledge and personal
advocacy. "We cannot but speak the things which we have
seen and heard," said Peter and John on one of the great
occasions of their lives. So this young man simply told the
things that he had seen and heard among the young people in
his own home church, and the first society in Australia was
the result.

About the same time when this society was formed in

The Hand of Providence. 8i

Queensland another was formed in Prahran, a suburb of Mel-
bourne, in Victoria.

From independent information, but in an equally in-
conspicuous and unheralded way, this other society was
started; but from this little seed what fruit-laden orchards
have grown! By way of contrast let us visit together the
Junior rally of the Victoria convention of 1904, held very
near the birthplace of the first, or possibly the second, little
society in all Australia.

A great throng of people is making its way to the great
Exhibition Building, the largest audience-room in all the
great city of Melbourne. Here, not many months before, in
the presence of a Duke and Duchess of York, the Australian
Commonwealth had been proclaimed, and the six colonies
had become the six states of the great United States of
Australia.

But on this occasion of which I speak, the huge hall
was thronged not with politicians or curiosity-seekers, but
with the five thousand children of the Junior societies of
Christian Endeavor of Melbourne, with as many more of
their fathers and mothers and teachers and older friends, who
had come to see them build the "Christian Endeavor
Bridge."* The stones of the bridge are marked "Faith" and
"Hope" and "Love" and "Temperance" and "Fidelity" and
other graces. One side of the bridge represents the Sunday-
school and the home, while the other side represents the
church of the living God. With laborious care the children
put together the blocks, and locked them all with the key-
stone "Jesus Christ." Lamps were lighted on the
ACstraiian parapet, which spelled out "JUNIOR." Three
Scene. large flags were unfurled, one from each parapet.

the Union Jack, the Stars and Stripes, and the Australian

*This is a favorite Junior exercise in Great Britain and Australia, and was
first prepared by Mr. W. H. Hope, of Liverpool.
6

82 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

flag, which received the most applause of all from the young
patriots.

They were banked up around the great organ, one of the
largest in the world, in vast tiers, banks on banks of sweet,
smiling, prettily dressed children, the loveliest of flower-
gardens. They overflowed into the galleries near by, and into
the floor of the audience-room below, while thousands of de-
lighted parents filled the back spaces. Then, when the exer-
cise was over, the children began to troop over the bridge
by scores and hundreds, passing, as they were directed, from
the home side and the Sunday-school side to the church side
of the bridge, thus symbolizing, as was intended, the great
idea of Junior Endeavor as the causeway between the home
and Sunday-school and the church, the bridge over which
a multitude of children in Australia and other countries are
metaphorically passing every year, to take their place, as we
may hope and believe, as "pillars in the temple of our God."

As we look on that first scene of small and insignificant
beginnings and on this great throng of interested and en-
thusiastic Christians, after a very few years gathered in the
Island Continent, a scene which I have witnessed in all its
essential particulars half a score of times in the great cities
of Australia, we must again say: "This work is not of man,
but of God. His guiding hand is in it all."

Some few years after the first society was started in Port-
land a poor old sailor lay sick in a hospital in Port Antonio,
in Jamaica. This was nothing unusual, nor was it out of the
ordinary for this stranded sailor to have given to him some
illustrated papers and magazines, which had been
The story ggni- fgr the purposc by a good lady in Boston.
stranded Among the other papers was one called The
Golden Rule,* the chief exponent and advocate of
the Christian Endeavor cause. The old sailor very likely

* Now The Christian Endeavor World.

The Hand of Providence. 83

knew nothing of the Christian Endeavor Society, and cared
as little for it; but he was interested in the pictures with
which the paper abounded, and afterward carelessly laid it
one side.

But God had a use for that stray newspaper. A good
Christian philanthropist of Port Antonio, when visiting the

Jamaican Christian Endeavor.

hospital and the sick sailor's cot, took up the paper, and read
for the first time of the Christian Endeavor Society, which
was then but little known, even in the land of its birth. But
the good seed was sown in the heart of the visitor, and soon
after the first Christian Endeavor society made its appear-
ance in the Methodist Church at Port Antonio. Again the
good seed sprang up and bore fruit, and soon began to "shake

84 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

like Lebanon" throughout the beautiful island of Jamaica.

Not many years after, it was my good fortune to visit
this lovely tropic isle, and everywhere from end to end I
found that Christian Endeavor societies had been planted.
One meeting especially in the ancient capital, in Spanish
Town, impressed my imagination. The church was thronged
with a great company of black Endeavorers, for there are of
course but few others in the island, where white people, are.
numerically speaking, but an insignificant fraction of the pop-
ulation. In that balmy climate the windows and doors were
all wide open, and dusky faces peered in at all of them, for
there was no room in the large church for the throngs who
would attend. On the platform were the colored ministers,
and besides the two American visitors only one other white
person, the very efficient and beloved secretary of the Jamaica
Union.

The address of welcome was given by one of the blackest
of the black brethren, and was characteristic of his eloquent
race, hearty, enthusiastic, and genuine.

"We are very glad," he said in his expansive peroration,
"to welcome our American cousins, as ^ve English say."

This representative of the British nation had never been
in England, nor had any of his ancestors, nor was it likely
that he ever would go; but it seemed to me not only a beauti-
ful tribute to the patriotic feeling of the people that they
thought of themselves as "we English," but it was also a
tribute to the cause of Christ and to this youngest organiza-
tion of the Christian family that it brought together white
English and black English, Americans and Afri-
Cousiniy caus, and made them feel their kinship in the com-
ecom . j^Qj^ cause of Christ; for it was something more
hearty than a "cousinly" welcome that the Americans received
throughout the island.

Thus again the story of the mustard-seed was repeated

The Hand of Providence.

oboi/^oo

"rs

{^^GJS

LAOS

Christelike Strevers Vereniging
DUTCH

Esforyo Christao
PORTUGUESE

Kristelig Virksomhed
DANISH

86 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

in the history of Christian Endeavor in Jamaica. Again is
the hand of God plainly seen as we look at the chance paper
sent to the sick sailor, and the vigorous and influential work
of Jamaican Christian Endeavorers as it is now being car-
ried on in almost every town and hamlet of the island, a work
that has spread to the other West Indies, and bids fair to bring
the same blessing to them.

In every other country Christian Endeavor had an
equally inconspicuous beginning, though not always so rapid
a growth. In Germany, now one of the Continental strong-
holds of the Society, it was introduced by a young theological
student named Blecher, who read in 1893 an article on the
Society by a German American, Pastor Berner, of Bufifalo,
N. Y. "I spoke of it," says Pastor Blecher, who from the
very beginning has been the faithful and indefatigable secre-
tary of the German Christian Endeavor Union, "to several
pastors and friends; but they paid little attention, and showed
still less sympathy with it. 'Quite good, but American,' was
the usual answer."

Ill health sent the president of the United Society to
Switzerland in 1894, ^^^ on his recovery, in November of
that year, a meeting was held in Berlin in the interests of
the Society, Herr Graf Bernstorfif being the interpreter. No
one who was present at that meeting, who knew the obstacles
to be encountered and the difficulties to be overcome, would
have dared to predict that in 1905 a great European Chris-
tian Endeavor convention would be held in the same city of
Berlin, attended by delegates from most European
in countries, and holding among many other meetings

ermany. ^ great praisc service attended by six thousand peo-
ple, at which service German royalty itself was represented,
as well as a great multitude of the royal servants of the King
of kings.

I have already spoken of a visit to England in 1888 at

The Hand of Providence. 87

the invitation of the Sunday-school Union. After the meet-
ings in England were over I crossed the Channel to spend a
few hours in Paris. Seeking out one of the McAU Mission
stations, I found there the Rev. C. E. Greig, who was holding
at that very moment a meeting for the boys and girls of that
quarter of the city. When he knew of the mission that had
brought me to Europe, he exclaimed at once: "This is in-
deed most providential. I have long been seeking and pray-
ing to know what more I could do for the boys and girls.
This very day the thought has been strangely impressed upon
me that something new should be attempted. The Christian
Endeavor Society is the very thing. We shall try it at once
wherever we can in our mission."

He was as good as his word, and from that moment the
Society began its career in France, and has never ceased to
be grateful for the kindly interest and guiding hand of the
head of the McAU Mission.

So I might go on, telling in detail the story of the small
beginnings in every land. It is the same story, varied by in-
teresting details in all the countries where Christian En-
deavor has found a foothold. No king or bishop or pope has
decreed its existence; no great church has fostered its growth;
but in every country the seed has been planted by some hum-
ble, earnest worker. In every country it has been watered by
the dews of Providence, and has grown under the sunshine
of God's grace. And in every land its motto might well be,

"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name
give glory, for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake."

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

A (jospel Boat in FoochoWj
With Leading Endeavorcrs on Board.

CHAPTER VII.
UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES.

WHEREIN ARE SET FORTH THE FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS
OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR AS THEY ARE VIEWED BY AN
AMERICAN AND A BRITISH LEADER.

"In our age we want whole-hearted Christians; we must
therefore welcome everything which helps to lead youth to a
living, active Christianity. Now it seems to us that these so-
cieties help to win young men and women to take a decided
standing for the cause of the Lord. This will not only be a
great blessing to the young people themselves, and afford them
a hold, but also be of incalculable value to the churches in gain-
ing for them members who know in whom they believe, and
who take an active part in church-work."

Count Bernstorff, Berlin.

HRISTIAN Endeavor is now found in almost
every land, among people of many colors and
climes and languages; in some lands just spring-
ing up as a little tender plant, and in others
grown into a strong tree deeply rooted in the
ground. In every land the Society has sprung up to meet a
need that was felt, and everywhere it has adapted itself to the
varying needs and circumstances.

Though conditions are very different in all these lands,
though languages and customs and manners differ greatly,
yet hearts are the same all the world over, and the needs of
those who are young in the Christian life are much the same,
whatever their circumstances. Many of the methods used in
these Christian Endeavor societies may differ, but the funda-

90 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

mental principles are the same in all lands. The trees may
grow to different heights, may put forth different colored
blossoms, and perhaps require different care, but the roots are
the same. In every land the essentials have been preserved,
while the non-essentials have been varies! to suit the varied
conditions.

In stating the fundamental principles which are neces-
sary to a true Christian Endeavor society perhaps I cannot
do better than to quote here a part of an address at the
World's Christian Endeavor Convention in London, in July,
1900, after a third Christian Endeavor journey around the
world.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR — WHAT IT STANDS
FOR THE WORLD AROUND.

SOME twelve years ago the word of the Lord seemed to
come to a quiet minister in eastern America, telling him to
take his pilgrim-staff and scallop, and travel from one end of
the world to the other in the interest of a new-born move-
ment called Christian Endeavor.

He felt that he could not be disobedient to the heavenly
vision, as he thought it to be; and since then, by sea and land,
by rail and river, he has been journeying, going thrice around
"this goodly frame, the earth," and travelling not less than a
quarter of a million of miles.

During the last twelve years it has been his privilege to
visit every State, Province, and Territory in North America,
almost every country in Europe and Asia, every colony but
one in Australia, the Ottoman Empire, Egypt, South Africa,
Mexico, and some of the islands of the East and West Indies.

He would be a dull scholar indeed, had he not learned
some things from the book of experience concerning the es-
sential and non-essential features of Christian Endeavor.
Pardon him, then, if at this World's Convention, having

Underlying Principles.

911

92 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

completed within the past week a third Christian Endeavor
journey around the world, he draws upon this experience,
claiming naught for his opinions but the virtue that they are
not mere opinions, not theories, but deductions, attested by
the hallmark of practical experience in many lands.

One test of a truth is that it is universal. Faith is faith
in India and Kamchatka. Hope is hope in the New World
and the Old. Charity is the greatest of the Christian graces
at the equator and the pole. So it is in all lesser matters that
have in them the elements of universal truth. Here is the
test of the value of an idea, of a movement, of an organization.
Is it a temporary expedient that meets some local, temporary
need, or is it a satisfaction for a universal need? Is it a post
to which something may be tied for a little while, or is it a tree,
with deep-running roots and wide-arching branches, which
grows with the year, and whose seed takes root in any fertile
soil? Thus can movements be tested.

Let us apply this proof to the principles of the Christian
Endeavor Society, and see if it meets the test. In this cruci-
ble let us also try the dififerent features of Christian Endeavor,
and find which are universal, that we may know which are
essential.

In any such movement there must necessarily be many
things that are local and temporary. Committees that are
necessary in one society are entirely unnecessary in another.
Place and hour of service, methods of roll-call, ways of con-
ducting the meetings, frequency and character of business
gatherings, all aflord room for an infinite variety of details,
preventing any dull uniformity of method, and affording op-
portunity for the utmost ingenuity and resourcefulness. In
these details societies in dififerent parts of the world will
surely dififer one from another, and they ought to do so.
These matters are not the essential, universal principles of the
movement. It would be the height of absurdity to say that

Underlying Principles. 93

because a society in London has its meeting at seven o'clock
Monday evening a society in Labrador should observe the
same day and hour; that because a society in Sydney has nine-
teen committees a society in Shanghai must have just a score
less one.

A thousand matters are left free and flexible in Christian
Endeavor. Personal initiative, invention, resource, the con-
stant leading of the Spirit of God, are possible.

The Christian Endeavor constitution is no hard chrysalis
which forever keeps the butterfly within from trying its
wings.

There is room even for experiments and failures, since
we will always remember that the worst failure is to make
no endeavor.

Yet, while this is true, it is equally true that a universal
movement must have universal principles that do not change
with the seasons, do not melt at the tropics, or congeal at
the poles. A tree puts forth new leaves every year, but it
does not change its roots. It simply lengthens and strengthens
them.

The roots of the Christian Endeavor tree, wherever it
grows, are Confession of Christ, Service for Christ, Fellow-
ship with Christ's people, and Loyalty to Christ's Church.

The farther I travel, the more I see of societies in every
land, the more I am convinced that these four principles
are the essential and the only essential principles of the
Christian Endeavor Society. Let me repeat them: —
I. Confession of Christ.
IL Service for Christ.

in. Fellowship with Christ's people.
IV. Loyalty to Christ's Church.

With these roots the Christian Endeavor tree will bear
fruit in any soil. Cut av/ay any of these roots in any clime,
and the tree dies.

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

I. Confession of Christ is absolutely necessary in the
Christian Endeavor Society. To ensure this are the methods
of the Society adapted in every particular. Every week
comes the prayer-meeting, in which every member who ful-
fils his vow must take some part, unless he can excuse him-
self to his Master. This participation is simply the confession
of Christ. The true Christian Endeavorer does not take part
to exhibit his rhetoric, or to gain practice in public speaking,
or to show what a logical prayer he can ofifer to God; but he
does take part to show that he is a Christian, to confess his
love for his Lord; and this confession is as acceptable made
by the unlearned, stumbling, lisping Christian as by the glib
and ready phrase-maker, if the few and halting words of the
former have the true ring of sincerity about them.

The covenant pledge is simply a tried and proved de-
vice to secure frequent confession of Christ. It is essential
to Christian Endeavor, but essential only because it secures,
as nothing else has been known to do, the frequent and regular
confession of Christ by the young Christian.

It also secures familiarity with the Word of God by pro-
moting Bible-reading and study in preparation for every
meeting.

The consecration-meeting, with its roll-call, is another
indispensable instrument that makes confession doubly sure
and doubly sacred.

The calling of the names at the monthly roll-call de-
clares the faithful confessor of Christ, and also reveals the
careless non-confessor and pledge-breaker as no other device
can do, and confronts each one month by month, with the
solemn question,

"Am I on the Lord's side?
Do I serve the King?"

This principle of confession in Christian Endeavor, I

Underlying Principles. 95

have found all the world around, is not dependent on de-
grees of latitude and longitude. The societies in Foochow,
China, have flourished and multiplied because from the be-
ginning they have observed this essential feature of Christian
Endeavor. The rude little groups of Christians on the
Ningpo, just out of rank, crass heathenism, have caught hold
of this great principle in their societies, and, though they have
little else, they are worthy the fellowship of any metropolitan
society in London. In a post and telegraph station in North
Japan, in the beals of East Bengal, on the ships of the United
States Navy, in the prisons of Kentucky and Indiana, among
the rude Islanders of the South Seas, our covenant is kept,
and the Christian Endeavor Society flourishes because the
covenant ensures constant confession of Christ, and constant
confession ensures a good society of Christian Endeavor; for
it is one of the main trunk roots through which it draws
nourishment and life.

In this virtue of free, outspoken confession of our faith
we Anglo-Saxon Protestants are singularly lacking. I know
of no race that is so shamefaced about its faith, so unwilling
to declare its allegiance. The Turk stands five times a day
and prays with his face toward Mecca, caring not who sees
him. On the housetop, by the wayside, in the courtyard of
the inn, when the hour of prayer comes, he unfailingly de-
clares, "Great is God, and Mahomet is His prophet." I
have heard the Buddhist mutter half the day long, "I believe
in Buddha; I believe in Buddha."

I have seen the Russian soldier in far Siberia face the
rising sun, and, with half a thousand comrades looking on,
cross himself and pray as though he were alone with God.

I have seen at least more outward devotion in a Catholic
cathedral than in any Protestant chapel I ever entered.

I have seen a thousand Catholic priests reading their
Bibles and prayer-books in public cars, but I have seen very

96 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

few Protestant ministers open their Testaments when any one
was looking. One cause of the mighty strength of these cor-
rupt faiths is that their adherents are not ashamed of them.
One reason for the weakness of our purer and more rational
belief is that we who profess it are so loath to confess it.
Christian Endeavor has come to the kingdom to remedy in
part this defect and to make professors confessors.

Our form of confession is the prayer-meeting. Here we
acknowledge our faith. Here we declare our allegiance.
And in our confession and declaration we renew our love,
and strengthen our zeal, and brace ourselves against temp-
tation, and equip our hearts for further conquests.

Let no one make light of the prayer-meeting, or decry
our covenant pledge, which makes and keeps our prayer-
meeting the power that it is. Whoever does this decries not
a fad, a notion, a temporary expedient, but a universal prin-
ciple of Christian Endeavor, and, I believe, an important
principle of the highest Christian attainment.

n. Another universal principle of Christian Endeavor
is constant service. If confession is the lungs of the move-
ment, service is its hands and feet. In no part of the world
have I ever found a good society whose members were not at
work. Never have I found a true society that ignored its
committees ; for our committees make service possible and
easy, systematic and efficient. The society was not made for
its committees, but the committees are made for the society,
to make it a working organization. The most multifarious
kinds of service have our societies undertaken; but all so-
cieties, the world round, that are worthy of the name are at
work in some way.

What are they doing? Ask the pastors and the Sunday-
school superintendents in America and Great Britain and
Australia. Ask the missionaries in the Punjab and among
the Telugus, among the simple people of the Laos country,

Underlying Principles. 97

?mong the Armenians and the Zulus, the Karens and the
Arabs, and they will all tell you the same story, "In the ideal
society every member is responsible for some definite, par-
ticular task."

This chorus of response is so universal and emphatic
that it must have a significance that cannot be ignored. This
feature of our society is not a matter of indifference.

It is not a late accretion. It is not a question of climate
or race. From the first day of the first society, during all
these nearly twenty years, this feature has characterized our
movement, and, into whatever land it has spread, it has been
known by this feature of systematic, organized, and individual
service.

Here, too, I believe, we can see the hand of God in build-
ing the society on this corner-stone. For various reasons our
churches have come to contain many silent partners, many
names of those who do not serve. Social considerations, de-
cline of early zeal, physical incapacity, have filled our church-
rolls, and have not multiplied our church-workers. I am
not finding fault or indulging in a cheap fling at the laziness
of Christians. I am stating a fact. Some counteracting
forces were needed. Here is one of them, — a society whose
ideal, like Wesley's, is, "At it, and all at it, and always at it";
a society that finds a task for the least as well as the greatest,
for the youngest and most diffident, as well as for the few
natural-born leaders.

A few weeks ago I visited a strange old Buddhist
monastery which for three thousand years has been hidden
away in a valley among the hills of Korea.

Here live and pray four hundred monks whiD, with their
long line of predecessors, during these three millenniums,
have maintained a corporate existence.^ They are recruited
from the lowest ranks of the people. They are despised and
hated by most of the Koreans, and yet they have prospered and
7

98 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

grown rich and powerful, while the country has grown poor
and weak.

What is the secret of their success and long life in the
land? Listen. To every neophyte some task is given. Each
has his own office and service. Among the younger ones, at
least, there are no drones. For three thousand years these
monastic bees have been making honey, and the hive still
stands because it is filled with workers. A lesson may be
learned by every Christian Endeavor society in the world
from this remote monastery among the beautiful hills of
Korea.

IIL Again, I have learned that our fellowship is an es-
sential feature of Christian Endeavor. This, too, is not a
matter of zones or climates or latitudes or languages. Our
fellowship is a universal, God-given, fundamental feature of
Christian Endeavor. This World's Convention demonstrates
it. The movement, to-day more emphatically world-wide
than ever before, emphasizes it.

In every land I have felt the heart-throbs of my fellow
Endeavorers. Our Christian fellowship is expressed in dif-
ferent ways, but it is always the same fellowship.

In Japan I have prostrated myself on hands and knees
with my fellow Endeavorers and touched my forehead to the
floor as they touched theirs.

In China, over and over again, a thousand Endeavorers
have stood up as I addressed them, and have shaken their
own hands at me while I have shaken mine at them.

In India they have hung scores of garlands about my
neck until I have blushed for my own unworthiness of such
a flowery welcome.

In Bohemia they have embraced me and kissed me on
either cheek.

In Mexico they have hugged me in a bear's embrace,
and patted me lovingly on the back.

Underlying Principles. 99

Always I have felt that these greetings were far more
than personal matters. They represent the fellowship of the
cause. Always, whatever the form, the loving greeting of
loving hearts is the same.

In the Fukien province of China, when we approached
a Christian village, — where, by the way, there is very likely
to be a Christian Endeavor society, — we were sure to hear
in the soft accent of the almond-eyed peoples the greeting,
"Ping 'ang, ping 'ang, ping 'ang" ("Peace, peace, peace").
Perhaps a hundred people, old and young, would utter this
benediction, as we walked through a single village.

So it seems to me, as I have gone around the world again
and again, I have heard the gentle word of fellowship from a
million Endeavorers, "Peace, peace, peace."

This fellowship is not an accident or a matter of chance.
It is an inevitable result of the movement. When the second
society was formed, nineteen years ago, the fellowship began.
Then it became interdenominational, interstate, international,
intersocial, intercontinental, and, as some one has suggested,
since

"Part of the hosts have crossed the flood.
And part are crossing now,"

it has become intermundane. ^yu-^C'trir's,-^^- '^"

IV. Once more, a universal essential of the Society of
Christian Endeavor is fidelity to its own church and the work
of that church. It does not and cannot exist for itself. When
it does, it ceases to be a society of Christian Endeavor. It
may unworthily bear the name. It may be reckoned in the
lists, just as an unworthy man may find his name on the church
roll. But a true society of Christian Endeavor must live for
Christ and the church. Its confession of love is for Christ
the head, its service is for the church. His bride; its fellow-
ship is possible only because its loyalty is unquestioned.

loo Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

This characteristic, too, I have found as universal as the So-
ciety. I have found no real exceptions. In city or country,
in Christian land or mission field in Europe, Asia, Africa, or
America, it is everywhere the same.

Because this is our ideal and our principle and our earnest
endeavor, let me urge older Christians, however, not to hold
Christian Endeavorers responsible, as some are inclined to do,
for every weakness among young Christians, which the Society
is doing its best to remedy, but cannot wholly overcome. Be-
cause many young people do not often go to church the So-
ciety is often blamed. Because some forget their vows the
splendid fidelity of the rank and file is forgotten. Because
the church pews are not filled, or the Sunday-school enlarged,
or the longed-for revival comes not, the Society is made the
scapegoat by some unthinking Christians for these defects,
for the very reason that its ideals on these matters are ex-
alted.

Bear with me if I rehearse once more the fundamental,
necessary features of this world-wide movement, at this
World's Convention —

Confession, Service, Fellowship, Fidelity.

Confession of our love for Christ.

Proof of it by our service for Him.

Fellowship with those who love Him.

Fidelity to our regiment in which we fight for Him.

Notice that each of these principles is natural and basal.
No one of them is a matter of mechanism. No one is a mat-
ter of expediency. Each is a sine qua non. In every con-
tinent you will find these features of Christian Endeavor are
necessary. I think you will find, also, that no other roots are
vital to the tree.

These principles make necessary the pledge and conse-
cration-meetings; they justify the systematic work of the com-
mittees; they explain our unexampled conventions; they re-

Underlying Principles. loi

veal the reasons of the rapid growth of Christian Endeavor
in all the world. To secure constant confession the binding
force of the covenant pledge is needed, and the monthly roll-
call cannot be dispensed with; to ensure constant service the
regularly apportioned work of the committees is essential; to
give voice to our fellowship our conventions and various
meetings are inevitable. Our loyal fidelity regulates and
guards the whole organization.

But these principles are not for the world-wide move-
ment alone. Your society, my fellow Endeavorer, needs them
all. The same principle of gravitation applies to the thistle-
down fluttering to the earth and the planet whirling through
space. Your local society cannot grow strong and healthy
and fulfil its God-given mission unless it stands four-square
for confession and service, fellowship and loyalty. Come
nearer home and take the truth to your own heart. You can-
not be a worthy Endeavorer unless you confess Christ, work
for Christ, love Christ's people, and uphold Christ's church.

We have been around the world, but we have come back
to our own soul's threshold. To your own experience I con-
fidently appeal when I assert once more what the experience
of twenty years in all lands has proved, that the fundamental,
universal, enduring features of Christian Endeavor are con-
fession, service, fellowship, fidelity.

In closing this chapter let me also quote a few words
from the Rev. F. B. Meyer, whose writings have helped so
many Christian Endeavorers in so many lands to lift their
ideals higher and to lead a stronger and nobler Christian life.
Mr. Meyer was at this time president of the British Christian
Endeavor Union, and the passage quoted from his address at
this same World's Convention in London sets forth the funda-
mental ideas of Christian Endeavor as seen by a British leader
in Christian Endeavor and in all kinds of Christian work —

"Christian Endeavor stands for five great principles:

I02 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

(i) Personal devotion to the divine Lord and Saviour, Jesus
Christ, so that we do not simply rely on His work of propitia-
tion, finished on the cross, but view Him as our living King,
whose will is law in every department of life. (2) The cove-
nant obligation embodied in our pledge, without which there
can be no true society of Christian Endeavor. COVE-
NANT, mark you, as the president of Scottish Endeavor in-
sists, which implicates the help of the Spirit of God as the
only source and inspiration of our endeavor. (3) Constant
religious training for all kinds of service involved in the
various committees, which are, equally with the prayer-meet-
ing and the covenant, essential parts of every society of
Christian Endeavor. (4) Strenuous loyalty to the local
church and denomination with which each society is con-
nected. (5) Interdenominational spiritual fellowship,
through which we hope not for organic unity, but to realize
our Lord's prayer for spiritual unity, that all who believe
in Him may be one. In these five points the heart and the
soul of the Christian Endeavor movement are concentrated.

"Christian Endeavor is a protest against the life which is
built in water-tight compartments, and demands that Christ
shall be supreme — over the cricket field and lawn-tennis
court, over the store and workshop, over the weight in the
scale and the sentence from the bench, over the drawing of a
check and the writing of a book."

CHAPTER VIII.
HELPS AND HELPERS.

THE EARLY CONVENTIONS, THE EARLY LEADERS, AND
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE STATE AND LOCAL UNIONS
ARE DESCRIBED HEREIN.

" The founders of this society labored in discouragement
and obloquy often, but they labored with a sublime optim.ism
and an invincible faith in God that never faltered. They had
no precedents to guide them, and, vuhile they may have made
mistakes, I agree with the judgment of the late Dr. C. F.
Deems, of precious memory: ' No management in America is,
all things considered, less open to adverse criticism than that
of the Society of Christian Endeavor.' I know that is a good
deal to say, but, when I think of the dangers that beset its
founders and promoters, and of the wonderful success of the
movement that might so easily have been wrecked upon any
one of the thousand rocks that lay in its course, I record the
above judgment as, before God, my deliberate conviction."

Rev. E. R. Dille, D.D., San Francisco.

iN Other chapters it has been told how the Society
began, and how it began to grow in many lands.
Why it grew is explained more by the princi-
ples which underlie it, and have given it vitality
and propagating power. The means of growth,
the helps and helpers, provide other chapters of interest in
the history of the Society.

Chief among these agencies of growth must be reckoned
the United Society and the different unions, local. State, and
national, which are all embraced in the World's Union of
Christian Endeavor.

We have already seen how the Society grew, at first

103

I04 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

slowly and without remark, but soon by leaps and bounds.
In 1885 there were 253 societies recorded, of which Massa-
chusetts had more than one-third. Maine came second, with
less than half as many, while New York had almost as many
on her list as the Pine-Tree State. Pennsylvania had but five
societies instead of the nearly five thousand of which now she
boasts. But even these five indicated a gain of more than
five hundred per cent over the previous year.

Though there were rumors, more or less in-
of"" ' "^ definite, of the formation of one or two societies
Rapid jj^ other lands, Christian Endeavor was still sub-

Cirowtn. '

stantially confined to New England and New
York, with one or two outposts beyond the Mississippi River,
notably in the Pilgrim Church of St. Louis, and still another
on the far Pacific coast, in Oakland, Cal.

Comparatively limited, however, as was the field, in-
quiries were coming from all parts of America, and from oth-
er lands as w^ell. Unless the new society were to be stifled and
starved in its cradle, and die, and be forgotten like its ancient
predecessor already described, some decisive step must be
taken. Two or three busy men could no longer take care of
the correspondence involved, much less find the time and the
money to extend the knowledge of the Society where it was
most needed.

In July, 1885, the Fourth Annual Convention of Chris-
tian Endeavor Societies was held, and on the native soil of
Maine; for Ocean Park, the Free Baptist Camp-Ground of
Old Orchard Beach, was the chosen place for what proved to
be an epoch-making convention in the history of the Society.
No one realized its importance at the time, for it
Epoch= h^*^ little in common with the great conventions of

Making ^ modern days. But an ardent little company gath-

Convention. : , , ^

ered there m the octagonal pavilion under the fra-
grant pine-trees, by the sounding sea, a little company, to be

Helps and Helpers,

105

Prominent American Endeavorers.

Rev. S. W. Adriance. Rev. James L. Hill, D. D.

Rev. Ralph W. Brokaw, D.D., ,
Rev. H. B. Grose. Rev. Nehemiah Boynton, D. D.

io6 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

sure, but one that had tested Christian Endeavor principles,
and believed in them, and was ready to take any wise ad-
vance steps to send them on their mission throughout the
world.

Here were Dickinson and Hill and Boynton and Grose
and Blakeslee and Brokaw and Gifford, all of them young
men who had not then achieved the fame or the semi-lunar
fardels which now adorn their names. There, too, was
Adriance, the beloved first secretary of the Society, whose
church in Lowell, however, loved him as well as the Chris-
tian Endeavor cause, and therefore would not allow him long
to continue in the exclusive service of the Society.

There, too, was Ward, the brilliant young collegian, who
soon succeeded Adriance in the secretaryship. Shaw was also
one of the select Christian Endeavor "four hundred" who as-
sembled at Old Orchard. As treasurer of the United Society,
a post which he has held almost from the beginning, he out-
ranks all other Christian Endeavor officials in length of serv-
ice. Graff, too, had come on from St. Louis as a representa-
tive of the first society beyond the Mississippi River, and had
travelled farther than any other half-dozen delegates. Now
for fifteen years he has efficiently helped the cause in con-
nection with The Christian Endeavor World or the United
Society, of which he is now the business manager.

Mr. W. J. Van Patten, of Burlington, Vt.,
Leaders. ^^^ another young man whose presence made this
convention memorable. He had already distin-
guished himself in Christian Endeavor circles, not only by
forming one of the first half-dozen societies and introducing
the movement into the State of Vermont, but also by giving
liberally for the promotion of the cause, circulating gratis
a whole edition of the first little book* written concerning
the Society, and advertising widely in secular and religious

* " The Children and the Church," by Rev. F. E. Clark.

Helps and Helpers. 107

papers that, if any one desired to know more about the So-
ciety of Christian Endeavor and its methods^ information
would be furnished, free of charge, by W. J. Van Patten, of
Burlington, Vt.

Such was the company of young men gathered at this
small but historic convention. They had an idea which the
world needed. How should they tell it out so that the world
should hear? was the great question before them. The an-
swer was, "We must have a permanent organization, and a
general secretary, who shall give his time to the work," and
this answer before the convention was over, was embodied in
the formation of the United Society of Christian Endeavor,
with Mr. W. J. V"an Patten for president, the Rev. S. W.
Adriance for secretary, and Mr. George M. Ward for treas-
urer. As already explained, Mr. Ward soon succeeded Mr.
Adriance in the secretaryship, and Mr. Shaw stepped into the
office for which he was evidently fore-ordained, and which he
has ever since held, the treasurership of the United Society.

Though the secretary could not live by bread alone, he
certainly could not live without bread. It must be provided
for him, and so, under the leadership of the Rev. James L.
Hill, in the space of a short half-hour $1,210 was subscribed
for the modest salary of the secretary, and for the promotion
of the work generally Eleven societies subscribed no less
than fifty dollars apiece. Others gave from twenty-five to
ten dollars, and individuals also subscribed generously.

Thus was launched the organization which more than
any other has contributed to the spread of the Christian En-
deavor cause throughout America, and, we may add, through-
out the world, since for many years the United Society acted
in the capacity of the World's Union, sending information
wherever it was asked for, printing the constitution and other
literature in scores of different languages, and giving freely
of its funds for the extension of the cause in all the world.

io8 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

In 1895, to anticipate a little, the World's
World's Union was formed for the express purpose of ad-
vancing the cause of Christian Endeavor through-
out all the earth; but for years this Union relied upon the
United Society to furnish it with the sinews of war for its
undertakings, and only within two or three years past, as its
needs became greater than the United Society could supply,
has it collected funds on its own account.

To anticipate again the history of the United Society,
it may be as well to state in this connection that two years
later, in 1887, the writer was chosen president of the United
Society, when it was made plain to him that he must give up
his chosen and beloved work as pastor, and devote his whole
time to the Christian Endeavor movement. Mr. Ward did
efficient service as secretary for three years, when he was
succeeded by Mr. John Willis Baer, a magnetic speaker and
of fascinating personality, who soon won his way into the
hearts of the young people of America, and became a fore-
most leader of the Christian forces of the country, while he, in
turn, was succeeded in 1903 by Mr. Von Ogden Vogt, who to-
day is winning his golden spurs as an efficient leader in this
most responsible position.

One of the most important functions of the United So-
ciety has been to provide a model for similar organizations
throughout the world, a model, of course, which is not
servilely followed, as it ought not to be, for circumstances and
conditions vary; but in a general way national Christian En-
deavor unions in all parts of the world have the same duties
and are managed in much the same way.

Great Britain and Australia, India, China, and Japan,
South Africa, Germany, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy,
and many other countries now have their United Societies,
many of them called by that very name, others called "Na-
tional Christian Endeavor Unions," as in Great Britain.

Helps and Helpers.

109

Leading American Endeavorers.

Von Ogden Vogt,

General Secretary of the
United Society of Christian Endeavor.

George B. Graff,
Manager of Publications.

William Shaw,

Treasurer of the United
Society of Christian Endeavor.

John Willis Baer,

Secretary of the World's

Christian Endeavor Union.

no Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Another important decision reached in the

Legislative formation of the United Society was that it should
unction, assume no legislative functions over the local so-
cieties. It was to be the freest and loosest possible organiza-
tion compatible with strength and vigor. It was to promul-
gate no decrees for the local society, to levy no taxes on
them, nor was it in any way to seek to regulate their affairs;

Missionaries and Leaders of Christian Endeavor Work in India.

for it was recognized as a fundamental principle of the new
movement that every society must always do and be what its
local church desired. The United Society did not even re-
quire societies to register their names with it, or tell of their
existence unless they desired, but collected its statistics as best
it could, taking it for granted that every society, by reason
of its being a Christian Endeavor society, was in sympathetic
relations with the United Society.

Helps and Helpers. in

Since it did not wish to be a financial burden upon the
local societies, it limited its expenses in every way, having
only one paid officer, the general secretary, a policy to which
it has resolutely adhered ever since. At the same time, it
went to work as quickly as possible to pay its own way, and
to earn its own living. This it did by establishing a printing
and publishing department, from the modest proceeds of
which its expenses have ever since been paid, and the surplus,
secured by efficient administration of this department, often
to the extent of three or four thousand dollars a year, has been
given to promote the spread of Christian Endeavor in distant
lands.

One of the resolutions passed at the Ocean Park Conven-
tion of 1885 reads as follows:

"Be it resolved that in every State where there are more
than two societies this conference recommend that there be
an annual State convention, that this convention occur some-
time during the autumn and winter months, and that it re-
main in session not longer than one day."

As has been remarked in a former history, "the wisdom
of at least a part of this resolution is indisputable, for there
could hardly be a State convention in a State which contains
less than two societies. . . . But all wisdom is not given
to any one convention, and the recommendation that this con-
vention occur sometime during the autumn or winter months,
and that it remain in session not longer than one day, was soon
allowed to fall into innocuous desuetude." In its
J'he spirit and general purpose, however, this recom-

of mendation was quickly adopted by all the States

and and Provinces and Territories, and, though no one

Unions. ^^^" ^^ h^s fondest dreams imagined that the sug-
gestion would be followed by other countries, it
was within less than two decades taken up by almost every na-

112 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

tion in the world, each one of which now has its annual or
biennial convention.

Still other and equally important results flowed from this
example of united Christian Endeavor action; for, as the so-
cieties began to multiply, the local groups of young people
began to say to themselves: "Why should we wait for the an-
nual State or national convention? Why not have a union
and a union meeting of our own?" The most natural ques-
tion in the world to ask, and one which could be answered
in but one way.

If union is a good thing, let us have more of it. If it
is worth while for the societies of a State to come together
once a year, why should not the societies of a county, a city,
or a village, where there are two or more, also meet for con-
ference and stimulus and mutual help? It was on November
1 8, 1885, that an important gathering of the Christian En-
deavorers of New Haven, Conn., was held in the Humphrey
Street Church. The call for this meeting was signed by the
pastors of seven churches in New Haven, and seven presi-
dents of as many Endeavor societies, who said to their breth-
ren to whom the notice went:

"Being greatly impressed with the importance of the
work of the Young People's Societies of Christian Endeavor
and the value of mutual consultation concerning it, we would
hereby invite you to join with us and with the other societies
of Christian JEndeavor in this State in a State convention.
We would suggest that each society be represented by the
pastor of the church with which it is connected, its presi-
dent, secretary, and treasurer, and one delegate for each ten
members on its roll. These persons will constitute the voting
power of the convention, and are cordially invited to the
hospitality of the Humphrey Street Society."

This meeting was duly held, and a preliminary organiza-
tion was formed, which ripened into the Connecticut State

Helps and Helpers. 113

Christian Endeavor Union, permanently organized at Bridge-
port the next year. This memorable meeting in
in°th? ' New Haven in 1885 had itself been preceded by at
^*"* least one other informal gathering of New Haven

Endeavorers called together by Mr. Eli Manchester, one of
the pioneer Endeavorers of the State, when there were but
three or four societies in the city.

In connection with this meeting an interesting story is told
of the way in which the name now so common throughout
the world was suggested. Rev. Erastus Blakeslee, a pastor
in New Haven, who had been a brigadier-general in the civil
war, and who has since become so famous in the promotion
of systematic Bible-study in the Sunday-school, was the chair-
man of this meeting. The delegates who were present were
somewhat perplexed as to what to call their new organization,
should they have one. Mr. Blakeslee, we are told, was on
his feet with a suggestion, when his daughter, who was sitting
by his side, said, "Why not call it the Christian Endeavor
Union?" It at once struck him as a happy name, and he
suggested it to the convention, which adopted it forthwith;
and the first local union was not only born, but christened.

Then followed others in quick succession in State and
county and city. The Nutmeg State has the honor of the first
State and local unions; but Massachusetts and Maine, New
Hampshire and Vermont, New York and Rhode Island, and,
one by one, Boston and Portland and Philadelphia and St.
Louis, San Francisco and London, Calcutta and Bombay,
Foochow and Honolulu and Helsingfors and Geneva, have
taken up the idea and followed in Connecticut's train; and
now there are but few countries or large cities in the Prot-
estant world that have not their Christian Endeavor Union.

Some of these unions are of remarkable size and spiritual
power, and do an immense variety of work, which will be re-
lated more in detail in later chapters. In London, for in-

114 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Great

City

Unions.

Stance, are found nearly eight hundred societies divided into
twenty divisions, with their different meetings and
infinite variety of work, and all meeting occasion-
ally in a great all-London gathering, which always
tests the capacity of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, or some
other of the largest churches in the city. As I have been
writing this history, news has come from Sheffield that their
union contains nearly two hundred societies, a gain of more
than thirty within a year. Chicago and Philadelphia long
vied with each other for the first place in the number of their
societies and the variety of their activities. But while Lon-
don, with its overflowing millions, has naturally the advan-
tage of all smaller cities, these two great centres of American
life are still friendly rivals for the second place; and an im-
mense amount of work they accomplish along missionary,
evangelistic, and good-citizenship lines, as well as holding

stimulating and enthusiastic union
meetings, and frequent executive gath-
erings which stir into life the pulses
of hundreds of groups of young peo-
ple in all parts of their territory.
Brooklyn, Baltimore, St. Louis, Kan-
sas City, New York, San Francisco —
but where shall I stop when I begin
to enumerate? The small unions have
done equally good work with smaller
numbers.

Some of the State meetings of the
present day are superlatively strong in
George w. Coleman numbers, enthusiasm, and stimulus for

service. A State convention, for example, which assembled
in Philadelphia brought together more than seventeen thou-
sand delegates, and was instinct with the same spirit of broth-
erhood, the same life and color and joyous song, that make

Helps and Helpers. 115

the national conventions memorable. Thus was the resolu-
tion of the little convention of 1885 on the surf-washed shores
of the State of Maine carried out in State and Province and
city and nation the world around.

CHAPTER IX.
HELPERS IN TYPE.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR WRITERS AND THEIR BOOKS,
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR PAPERS IN MANY LANDS, AND
THE WORK OF PRESS COMMITTEES FORM THE SUB-
STANCE OF THIS CHAPTER.

" The church has yet to measure up to an appreciation of
the full value of the printing-press as a factor in doing her best
and largest and most far-reaching work."

Mr. John R. Clements, Binghafnton, N. Y.

jYEAR or two ago a bibliography was published of
American Christian Endeavor books and book-
lets. It was found that nearly eighty books on
the subject, larger or smaller, had been pub-
lished, and several hundred booklets and leaf-
lets in America alone. Since then a number of others have
been added. Great Britain has also added very considerably
to this total in the English language. Germany has an abun-
dant Christian Endeavor literature of its own, and in many
other languages there is a beginning of such a library.

The pioneers of this literature were a short article al-
ready mentioned, "How One Church Looks after its Young
People," published in 1881 in The Congregationalist, and a
leaflet published in the spring of 1882 by the present writer,
entitled "The Children at the Church Doors"; but the first
bound volume on the subject did not appear until the year
1882. It was entitled,

THE CHILDREN AND THE CHURCH,

AND

THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR

AS A MEANS OF BRINGING THEM TOGETHER.

116

Helpers in Type.

117

American Endeavorers.

John R. Clements.

Amos R. Wells. Arthur W. Kelly.

Rev. John F. Cowan, D. D.

ii8 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

^ This was the author's first attempt at book-

First Book making, with the exception of a little volume on
Christian "Vacations and How to Enjoy Them," published in
Endeavor, j^.^ theological Seminary days, and a brief biography
of a gifted young Portland artist.* The book was received
with unexpected favor by the press and the public, more be-
cause of its timeliness and the interest aroused in its subject,
doubtless, than because of any literary merit. Several edi-
tions were exhausted, one in paper covers being circulated
gratuitously among the ministers of the country by the Hon.
W. J. Van Patten, of Vermont.

This volume has been followed by several others f by the
same author, which need not be mentioned in detail.

The most prolific and suggestive writer on Christian En-
deavor themes is Mr. Amos R. Wells, formerly professor of
Mr. Wells's Greek in Antioch College, Ohio, but since 1892
c^ntrib - ^^^ brilliant editor of The Christian Endeavor
tions. World. A very large number of valuable books

and booklets have come from his facile pen, including text-
books for almost every committee, a "Junior Manual,"
"Junior Recitations," and "Oflicers' Handbook," and a yearly
booklet entitled "The Endeavorer's Daily Companion,"
which has a very wide circulation in all parts of the world.
Mr. Well's stories, too, have been popular, as have also those
by Dr. John F. Cowan, another able editor of The Christian
Endeavor World, whose ^'Endeavor Doin's Down to the Cor-
ners," a racy dialect story of the influence of Christian En-
deavor in a country town, telling the interesting experiences
of "Jonathan Hayseeds, C. E.," was hailed by a large circle
of readers.

Chief among the story-writers who have found "green
fields and pastures new" in tales of and for the Christian

* William E. Harwood.

t Among them, " Young People's Prayer-Meetings." " Ways and Means,"
" Christian Endeavor Saints," " Training the Church of the Future," etc.

Helpers in Type. 119

Endeavor Society is Mrs. Isabella M. Alden, "Pansy," be-
loved of so many young people throughout the world. It is
the fashion in some quarters to decry her books and others
of like character as being "impossibly good," and dealing only
with superlative characters; but surely in these days, when we
have so many novels that are impossibly bad, crammed with
vulgar and intolerably vicious characters, it is not the worst
thing that could be said of a book for young people that
it presents the best side of life, sets up the highest ideals, and
allows its characters to strive to live up to them. At any
rate, had the reader's experience been mine, of hearing m
many parts of the world how Mrs. Alden's Christian En-
deavor books have aroused interest, stimulated the young peo-
ple to new zeal, suggested new plans for Christian work, and
established new ideals in their societies, he would agree that
such volumes are not to be lightly decried. Scores of so-
cieties have been started in distant lands because of that in-
teresting little volume called "Chrissy's Endeavor," and some
of her other stories have been scarcely less useful along this
line.

I remember when I was in South Africa a prominent
politician, who has since become the premier and acting gov-
ernor of one of the colonies, was more anxious to hear of Mrs.
Alden than of any other American writer. He told me that
her books had been very helpful in his religious life, and he
knew of many young men who had also been helped by them.
This certainly, so far as it goes, indicates that they have a
virile quality which young men as well as young

Mrs. Alden ^ -^ , .

and women need not despise.

rs. utz. Another most popular writer of Christian En-

deavor stories is Mrs. Alden's gifted niece, Mrs. Grace Liv-
ingston Hill Lutz, whose "Story of a Whim," "Because of
Stephen," and "The White Lady" are favorites everywhere.
The Christian Endeavor Society has been particularly

120 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

fruitful in its output of devotional books for the Quiet Hour
and of practical volumes for missionary work. The Rev. J.
Wilbur Chapman, D.D., the Rev. Floyd W. Tomkins, D.D.,
the Rev. F. B. Meyer, the Rev. Andrew Murray, and the
beloved Clarence E. Eberman, whose short life was so full
of heroic service for the Christian Endeavor cause, have con-
tributed most interesting volumes. In the preparation of
missionary literature Miss Belle M. Brain has been specially
gifted, and Mrs. Ella N. Wood and Miss Kate Haus have
helped on the Junior cause by their fruitful pens, while the
Rev. W. F. McCauley's "Why?" and "How?" have answered
many important Christian Endeavor questions. Mrs. Fran-
cis E. Clark has prepared two volumes, which have had a
wide circulation, "A Daily Message for Christian Endeavor-
ers — a book for the Quiet Hour, the Prayer Meeting, and
the Birthday," and the latest and most complete volume for
Junior workers, entitled "Junior Endeavor."

In Great Britain the Rev. W. Knight Chaplin,* the sec-
retary of the British National Union, has wielded a busy,
forceful pen in the service of Christian Endeavor, as have also
Miss M. Jennie Street, the Rev. Joseph Brown Morgan, the
Rev. John Pollock, and many others. In Germany the Rev.
Frederick Blecher has added most important contributions
and translations to the stock of Christian Endeavor literature,
and his history of the movement is one of the most complete
and valuable in any language.

When we come to periodical literature, we enter upon a
wide field, for the Society has been particularly prolific in
newspapers and magazines. The place of priority must be
given to The Christian Endeavor World, for as The Golden
Rule it was for a long time the only advocate and exponent
of the movement. After a flourishing existence for a num-
ber of years under the old title, during which it attained a

* Author of a " Life of Francis E. Clark " and other books.

Help

ers m

Type.

121

* * * FEVRIER 1905 * * *

REDACTION et ADMINISTRATION ;

Rue de la Cite, 4, Genfeve.
Le journal par ait ie 25 de ckaque mots.

ABONNEMENTS

Suisse, un an . . . .
Union Postale, un an

Fr. 2 50
• 3-

Pour Christ et pour I'Eglise

|iar M. M. Lelikvrf., adminisfraleur du Comity International.

clablisscmenl au sein de nos Egliscs de
socieles d aclivile chrelienne est un sujct
de joic el d'esperance pour ceux que
U prcoccupe I'avenir du christianisme evan-
gel iqyc dans noire palric. En presence .des progres
de liiioredulile et de la demoralisation, qui font lant
de viclimes dans la Jeunessc, nous nous sommcs sou-
vonl demaude 4vec unc angoisse palriolique: Oil al-
lons-nous? Que sera I'Eglise de demain si la jeuncsse
echappe a I'Eglise d'aujourd'hui? Les Sotielcs d'ac-
livite chrelienne nous repondent: « Hommes de pcu
de foi, pourquoi avez-vous doute' Hil desperandum,
Chrislo diice : il n'y a pas lieu de desesp^rer, quand
on a Jesus-Christ pour chef. Et notre , devise est:
« Pour Christ et pour I'Eglise!."

Le succes prodigieux de ce mouvement ddsigne
cette oeuvre commc une oeuvre de Dieu. Ce succfes
en effet est d'ordre spiritucl. Partout oil eUfs s'eta-
blissenl siir leur base normale, les Societes d'aclivite
chrelienne reveillertT et"vivifient les Eglises. EUes leur
apporlent un prinlemps SDlriliiel. Jen connais plus
d'une dont on eut pu dirt. Les elements de telles
socieles y font defaut, il a'Y a pas de jeunesse. Et

il a suffi qu'un homme de foi ail dit N importe! es-
sayons! pour que les Elements dune socieie aient paru,
et qu'on ail pu dirC de telle Eglise, qui semblail frap-
pee de sterilite:

Chers activistes, vous cles I'Eglise de demain, ou
plutot vous etes I'avanl-garde de I'Eglise d'aujour-
d'hui. Voire jeune entrain fail tressaillir de joie nos
vieux coeurs, que les deceptions du passe onl un peu
dess^ches. Sojez ces jeunes gens forl.s, dont parlc
sa^■lt Jean, qui ont vaincu le Malin, el Dieu se servjra
de vous pour rfiveiller nos Eglises.

Ce qui fail roriginalile et la fecondite de vos asso-
ciations, c'esl qu'elles font appel a la volenti, el non
au sentiment cl 4 I'imagination. Laissez-moi, en quel-
ques mots, vous rendre allenlifs » ce cold ess"euiiel
de voire programme.

■Vos socieles, nees en pays de langue anglaise, onl
pris pour nom Societes d'effort Chretien (Christian
Endeavour Society). Ceux qui onl importe chez nous
cette inslituion, en onl change le nom, le trouvanl
sans doule un peu gauche el pcu clair, el onl sitbsti-
tu^ Vacjivite a Vefforl. II y a peut-elre la un indice
du caract^re de noire race, qui rcpiigne un peu i"
I'efforl, el qui lui prefere laclivite reguliere. Sans
allacher trop d'importance aux mols, je voy&<iemande
de vous souvenir que, dans le litre original de vos
Socieles, se trouve le mot effort. C'esl 1 idee ^ui leur
a donne naissance, c'esl en quejque soric leur. marque
de fabrique.

Facsimile of a Swiss Christian Endeavor Paper.

122 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

weekly circulation of 100,000 copies, its name was changed to
^,^g the more distinctive and appropriate one. The

Christian Christian Endeavor World. It has owed much of

Endeavor

World. its success to the faithful and brilliant work of its
managing editor and associate editors, Mr. Amos R. Wells,
the Rev. J. F. Cowan, D.D., and Mr. Arthur W. Kelly.

It is perhaps not inappropriate to record here that it has
for nearly twenty years, in addition to circulating Christian
Endeavor principles and methods far and wide, furnished the
whole financial support for its editor-in-chief, who is also the
president of the United Society; for its business manager, who
is the treasurer of the United Society, as well as for its other
editors, whose pens have been busy in preparing Christian
Endeavor literature of all kinds and for people of many
tongues Thus it has relieved the United Society and the
World's Union of large financial responsibility, and has en-
abled the officers of the Society largely to earn their own
living, to take long journeys in the interests of the move-
ment, and to devote the money earned by the publishing de-
partment of the United Society to the promotion of the cause
in other ways, and in many lands.

Mr. William T. Ellis and the Rev. J. L. Sewall also did
valuable service for The Golden Rule while connected with
it, and the former has since conducted a press syndicate with a
Christian Endeavor department.

Another weekly paper of growing power and influence,
devoted to the advancement of the cause, is The Christian En-
deavour Times of London, the chief British representative of
the cause. This paper, too, has a wide circulation, and has
contributed in many ways, directly and indirectly, financially
and otherwise, to the advancement of the Society in the United
Kingdom.

A dainty little monthly printed on pale-green paper is
The Irish Endeavourer, which is always full of good news and

Helpers in Type. 123

helpful suggestions. The Church of England Endeavourer
represents the growing and vigorous societies in the Estab-
lished Church of England.

To return to America, it ought to be recorded in this con-
nection that many of the States and large city unions have
their own Christian Endeavor organs,* sometimes of consider-
able size and with a paid circulation. Most States and cities,
however, have contented themselves with a comparatively
small "bulletin" calling attention to coming meetings, and
recording events of local importance. Some States have
found to their sorrow that it is easier to start a magazine than
to keep it up to a high standard of excellence, and some of
them have unfortunately involved the State unions in a large
and needless expense, so that the tendency is toward a smaller,
but none the less valuable, bulletin for the diffusion of State
news and notices.

Australian ^^ Other parts of the English-speaking world

a"^ are published such helpful magazines as The

European . , . . .

Endeavor Christian Endeavour Link of Victoria; The Roll-
apers. ^^^ ^^ Ncw South Wales ; The Christian En-
deavour News of South Australia, published in Adelaide;
and The Burning Bush, the organ of the New Zealand En-
deavorer. The South African Endeavourer looks after the
interests of the cause among the English societies of its con-
tinent, while the Dutch Endeavorers also have their own
organ.

On the continent of Europe a leading Christian En-
deavor paper is Die Jugend-Hilfe, which every month is load-
ed with solid and substantial material of interest to our Ger-
man brethren. It has been constantly improving under the
zealous editorship of Secretary Blecher, and is a real power

*It is impossible to publish the^names of all in this connection, since many are
but temporary in their character; b'ut they fill a valuable and increasingly useful
place. A list of leading State papers published ten years ago is printed in "World-
Wide Endeavor."

christian Endeavor in All Lands.

=*^

CbwUo

EL ESFORZADOR
MMEXICANOOt

[JFUER20

■'•™,.. (ristuno

Our Brothers
in Type.

for good in the Fatherland. It has lately
been supplemented by a bright little
paper for the German Juniors called
Der Kinderbund.

L'Activite Chretienne, of Geneva,
is the principal paper published in the
French language, and is always fresh
and interesting.

Esfuerzo Cristiano is the name of
an admirable twenty-page Christian En-
deavor monthly published at Madrid, to
which Dr. Gulick and leading Spanish
Endeavorers contribute of their best.

Another Spanish Christian En-
deavor paper is published by the Metho-
dist Christian Endeavorers of Barcelona,
and still another excellent paper in the
same language is the organ of the Mexi-
can Endeavorers.

In Sweden De Ungas Tidning lends
its columns to the use of the Endeavorers,
and in Italy a Christian Endeavor de-
partment is kept up in the weekly Glo-
ve ntu.

Of all the papers published in mis-
sionary lands India Christian Endeavour
is said to be the most beautiful in typog-
raphy and illustrations. The Japanese
Christian Endeavor paper has fortunate-
ly two front pages, to use a Hibernicism,
one at the beginning and the other at
the end. As the Japanese begin on what
v/ould be our* back cover, the arrange-
ment is perfectly satisfactory, since three-

Helpers in Type. 125

fourths of the paper is in Japanese, edited by the Rev. T.
Harada, and one-fourth is in English, edited by the Rev. J.
H. Pettee, D. D.

The only paper regularly published in Portuguese is
the Brazilian monthly O Esforco Christao.

In many other countries where regular periodicals are
not sustained, more or less frequent issues of Christian En-
deavor literature, reports of conventions, etc., are published.
Thus in China a very influential document, describing the
last great convention, is w^idely circulated. In Finland a
number of translations of leading Christian Endeavor publi-
cations have been given to the public, and in Hungary Pro-
fessor Szabo's book entitled "Revesetyen Zovetsegek" has
largely helped the cause.

The Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, and Lettish Endeav-
orers have generous space accorded to them in other religious
papers, which thus serve for the present the needs of the So-
ciety.

In enumerating the distinctively Christian Endeavor pa-
pers we must not overlook The Christian Endeavour Gem is-
sued by the Jamaica Union, which is the worthy organ of
these vigorous and growing societies.

Nor should we forget European Christian Endeavour,
edited by Mr. Stanley P. Edwards, and devoted to the inter-
ests of the Society in all parts of continental Europe.

There are also a number of denominational Christian
Endeavor papers, besides The Church of England Christian
Endeavourer, like The Mennonite Endeavorer, the K. L.
C. E. Journal, whose cabalistic letters stand for "Keystone
League of Christian Endeavor," the organization of the
Evangelical Association churches.

The Allen Endeavorer and Varick Endeavorer are two
papers of real value published by the colored people of
America, representing the two great divisions of the Metho-

126 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

dist colored churches, while the Welsh people in America
also have their paper, entitled Y Trysor, which succeeds Y
Lamp.

For a limited time and for special occasions
journa'i temporary Christian Endeavor papers are also
often published ; for instance, the last Australasian
convention held in Hobart, Tasmania, showed its enterprise
by publishing a daily during the sessions of the convention,
while the Leeds Endeavorers, in anticipation of the Na-
tional British Convention, which will soon assemble in their
city, has published for months in advance a bright and breezy
journal relating to the coming convocation.

In this connection the efforts of many press committees
connected with local Christian Endeavor unions should not
be overlooked. They have been invaluable to the cause of
Christian Endeavor by maintaining columns of Christian En-
deavor news and notes in local papers, furnishing informa-
tion for editorial comment and frequently longer articles of
more permanent value for magazines and newspapers.

Mr. John R. Clements of Binghamton, N. Y., has been
especially active and successful in developing this feature of
Christian Endeavor enterprise. As chairman of the press
committee of the New York Union, and more lately as secre-
tary of the press department of the United Society, he has
greatly widened this field of activity. Every week he fur-
nishes for the American Press Association a large page of
Christian Endeavor matter, containing notes on the prayer-
meeting topic for each week, and spicy bits of information,
helpful thoughts, and wise plans, which are printed in hun-
dreds, if not thousands, of daily and weekly papers. The
prayer-meeting notes are prepared by the Rev. S. H. Doyle,
and furnish a helpful exposition of each topic, which is wide-
ly used. Mr. Clements's energy and enterprise also find an
outlet in other papers, and his practical suggestions in The

Helpers in Type. 127

Christian Endeavor World are among the most valuable
which it receives.

The Rev. James H. Ross also does much to keep some
of the leading papers and magazines of the country informed
in regard to the progress of Christian Endeavor.

Some of the leaflets and booklets relating to the Society
have had an enormous circulation. One little booklet of
some twenty pages, entitled "The Society of Christian En-
deavor, What It Is, and How It Works," later editions of
which are called "Christian Endeavor in Principle and Prac-
tice," has been circulated by the hundred thousand, and has
been translated into a score of languages. Others relating to
the different committees, the history of the Society, etc., have
had nearly as large a circulation. In the aggregate many
millions of these booklets have been sent forth and very large-
ly free of all expense to those who have received them, the
United Society of America having expended thousands of
dollars in propagating the principles of Christian Endeavor.

It is not improper to add here that the authors of these
booklets and tracts have received no royalty or compensation
of any kind for them, though only a fraction of a cent on
each one published would have given them comfortable for-
tunes. It is only on the larger Christian Endeavor volumes
that the authors have received any royalty, and not always on
these, for Christian Endeavor in type has been very largely a
labor of love.

To all who have had anything to do with the literature
of the movement it has been enough to know that printer's ink
and type have been used in a marvellous way in making
known the principles and progress of the Society in every
land. If the Society set up patron saints of its own, Guten-
berg would doubtless be one of the first to be canonized.
Even the "printer's devil" should hold a warm place in the
affections of Christian Endeavorers.

CHAPTER X.
THE GREAT CONVENTIONS.

WHEREIN TWO OF THE GREATEST CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
CONVENTIONS ARE DESCRIBED, WHICH, LIKE MANY
SINCE, HAVE COMPELLED THE ATTENTION OF THE
WORLD.

" The great number, the zeal and enthusiasm of these young
people in their great interdenominational and international
Christian Endeavor brotherhood should effect much in the
nature of a good understanding between the young people
of the world." Sir Henry Bail,

Acting Governor of Natal.

N no way has the Christian Endeavor idea been
'^ spread throughout the world more effectively
and rapidly than by the great conventions,
which have been a unique feature of the move-
ment. It is not too much to say that the Society
has created a new type of a religious convention. Never be-
fore in the history of Christianity have such throngs of young
people come together as now assemble in many lands at the
annual Endeavor conventions.

When thirty thousand or more young men and women,
with a very considerable sprinkling of their pastors and older
friends, invade a city, and spend a week in prayer and praise
and conference, it is bound to make an impression upon the
community and, through the press, upon the country at large.
People ask: "What is this new thing that compels such en-
thusiasm and zeal? Is it not something that we need in our
church? Should we not have part in the fellowship of the
movement?"

128

The Great Conventions.

129

130 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

The young people who attend the convention go home
with new ideas, larger aspirations, and a freshly kindled pur-
pose to advance the cause which brought them together.
Their convention rallies and echo meetings are heard in the
remotest sections of the country, and thus the blessed con-
tagion of a deeper religious purpose and a more intelligent
zeal spreads from heart to heart, until millions are affected
by it.

To show the influence and power of these conventions in
advancing the Christian Endeavor movement and other good
causes I have chosen seven typical conventions in widely sep-
arated cities — New York, 1892; Boston, 1895; London, 1900;
Ningpo, 1905; Berlin, 1905; Hobart, 1905; and Baltimore,
1905.

These conventions have been chosen not because they
were larger and more important than many others that have
been held, but because it is impossible within the limits of
this volume to tell the story of all, even briefly, and because
these show how in different lands the same leaven has been
at work in the meal, and how the same inspiring thoughts of
fellowship and service produce the same gracious enthusi-
asms.

In describing these conventions it will be necessary to
depart from the chronological order of this history, and bring
in at this early date some of the latest happenings in the So-
ciety; but they are introduced here in order that the means
which God has used in promoting the growth of the move-
ment, the helps and helpers in the advancement of Christian
Endeavor, may be fully understood.

ry^^^ The first little gathering in Williston Church

First in 1882, when the parent society called its friends

Endeavor and neighbors together, has already been described.
Convention. ^^.^ ^^^ followed by a convention in the follow-
ing year in the Second Parish Church of Portland, in 1884

The Great Conventions. 131

by a modest gathering in the Kirk Street Church in Lowell,
in 1885 by the convention already described at Ocean Park,
where the United Society was formed, in 1886 and 1887 by
two memorable and deeply spiritual conventions in Saratoga.
In the second of the Saratoga conventions two thousand dele-
gates were enrolled. But the tide was still rising, and in 1888
five thousand Endeavorers gathered in Battery D in Chicago.
Still larger numbers from the seven thousand societies then
in existence made a pilgrimage to Philadelphia in 1889. In
1890 the ever-increasing hosts gathered in St. Louis, and the
following year the Twin-City Convention of Minneapolis
and St. Paul registered the high-water mark up to that date
of Christian Endeavor and Christian Endeavor gatherings.

Up to this time, however, these gatherings had made no
very deep impression upon the country at large. The cities
where they were held were most hospitable and generous in
their welcome, and the Endeavorers who attended received
untold spiritual good; but it remained for the convention of
1892 in New York City really to command the attention of
the country, and to lead people everywhere to see that a new
type of religious gathering with new enthusiasms and new
possibilities had been born.

New York City was in advance naturally somewhat cyn-
ical and sceptical concerning the convention, whenever it took
time to think about it at all. A prominent pastor told me
that the convention would not make "a ripple of excitement"
in New York City. "It might attract some attention in a
small city, but conventions come and go and leave no sign
behind them in New York." One hotel-keeper told the com-
mittee of arrangements, when they went to him to seek ac-
commodations, that he would take in the whole convention,
since his hostelry would accommodate no less than fifteen
hundred people. When the committee told him that they
expected ten times fifteen hundred, he regarded them with

132 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

pitying incredulity, and most people, except the men of faith
and works who constituted the splendid local committee, were
inclined to discount the expectations in regard to the number
of delegates by at least three-fourths.

►P^g At first the daily papers were inclined to give

Wonderful buf little attention, and some of their attentions

Convention ' . i o j

in were by no means riattermg. Smce the Sunday

New Y^orlc

question was especially prominent just at that time,
and the Endeavorers had taken a decided stand in regard to
the closing of the gates of the World's Fair on the Lord's
Day, one of the leading papers in an editorial paragraph had
"nothing better to do" than to berate "these beardless enthu-
siasts who have nothing better to do than to howl for a Puri-
tan Sunday."

But when the Endeavorers began to pour into the city,
ten, twenty, even thirty, thousand of them, when traffic was
blocked on the railways by the great number of excursion-
ists; when New York's streets became gay with the fluttering
badges and bright faces of a multitude of youth they were un-
accustomed to see, a different spirit was noticed. "Where
have they come from?" "What are they doing?" "What
does Christian Endeavor mean?" "What draws so many
young people together?" were questions that were heard on
every side. The papers began to give many columns to a
report of the addresses, and these reports were supplemented
by generous and kindly editorial words. Madison Square
Garden, though it was seated for fourteen thousand people,
was entirely inadequate to contain the throng that wished to
attend, and thousands of disappointed men and women be-
sieged the doors at every session. Immense overflow meet-
ings were held in the open air, while all the churches in the
vicinity were crowded with similar gatherings.

A splendid programme had been provided in advance,
but so many distinguished men, who happened to be in the

The Great Conventions.

133

city, were attracted by the convention, and were called upon
by the audience for brief addresses, that these interruptions
and unexpected contributions constituted some of the most
mert^orable features.

^'I think one of the greatest surprises you have given to
this wonderful city," said the Hon. John Wanamaker, at that

A Typical Christian Endeavor Convention Tent Scene.

time the postmaster-general of the United States, ',^'is the way
in which you Christian men and women are taking possession
of it. Who ever would have believed that you would march
on the city thirty thousand strong? I think if you were to go
out into the streets, you would have to add twenty thousand to
that figure. (I rejoice to-night that the Christian Endeavor
Mr. movement has brought something to this age, not a

makeT's local Or temporary thing, but something that com-
Address. mands the heart and the good opinion of the whole
world. In the simplest, and in the most practicable, and in the
most common-sense way, on unsectarian lines, this, the bright-
est star in the Christian world, has risen, sending out its light

134 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

and beneficence over the years of this closing century, to
usher in the dawn of a new century pf the blessedness of
Christian living all the world around."

One deep impression that was made by this vast company
of eager youth was of the enduring character of Christianity,
its ever-living vitality in adopting new forms of expression
when old ones are outworn. The venerable Dr. Philip
Schaflf, the Nestor of church historians, who was upon the
convention platform (and it proved to be almost his last ap-
pearance in public), declared that this convention seemed to
him to open a new era in the history of the Christian church,
while the Hon. J. W. Foster, the eminent diplomatist and
then the secretary of state of the United States, in his im-
promptu remarks, when he was called out by Endeavorers
who noticed him in the audience, said: "We hear much
from certain quarters in this day about the decay of evangel-
ical religion, and of the growth of agnosticism and the vari-
ous forms of disbelief, which are to sweep off the earth our
Bibles and our Christianity. Would that these critics could
stand in my place to-night. They might be led to believe
that faith in a risen Saviour and in the inspired word of God
were neither dead nor dying in this land."

The patriotic and good-citizenship note, which since then
has always been sounded at Christian Endeavor conventions,
was struck by the Hon. Whitelaw Reid, the present ambassa-
dor at the court of St. James, who, when called out from the
audience, awoke great enthusiasm by saying:

"Our fathers, who laid the foundations of the civil and
religious liberty which we enjoy, were men who planted their
The ^ fortifications on every hillside as they advanced to
Fort!fic^=^ the conquest of the continent. You know what these
tions. fortifications were — the schoolhouse and the church.

Let us guard them as our fathers guarded them, and we shall
preserve the fair heritage we have received, and transmit it

The Great Conventions. 135

in our turn, grand and beneficent, beyond their thought or
ours, to untold generations of men."

At this convention, too, for the first time on any extend-
ed scale the picturesque feature of Endeavorers from other
lands in their native costume made a deep impression. Mr.
Sumantrao Vishnu Karmarkar, a native Hindu, of fine pres-
ence, wearing his turban and silken sash, was given a great
ovation, and he spoke in excellent English on the subject,
"Christianity for India." He has since been, and is to-day, a
prominent leader of the native Christian Endeavor forces of
India. Mr. Ju Hawk, of St. Louis, a young Chinaman,
thrilled the audience with his speech on Christian Endeavor
for China, and Mr. Thomas E. Besolow, a native African
prince, made a happy address for the Dark Continent. A
native of Alaska, also, Mr. Marsden, who was then studying
to go back as a missionary to his people, among whom he has
since labored, spoke most interestingly. Thus a cosmopoli-
tan flavor was given to this convention such as no previous
meeting had had.

For the first time, too, in the history of these conventions
denominational rallies were held, to make evident to all the
world that Christian Endeavor, though an interdenomina-
tional society, so far from being antagonistic to denomina-
tional control, oversight, and fellowship, gladly welcomed
them. Twenty dififerent denominations held rallies in
churches of their own order, and in almost every case, the
record says, "the numbers were large, the enthusiasm intense,
and the spirit of devotion no less marked than in the inter-
denominational fellowship."

Here, too, the Juniors first had their innings. For the
first international Junior rally was held in the Broadway
Tabernacle, under the lead of Mrs. Alice May Scudder, a de-
voted Junior worker, who had given much thought to the
welfare of the boys and girls.

136 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

I have dwelt at a somewhat disproportionate length upon
some of the characteristics of this convention because they
emphasized for the first time certain great features of Chris-
tian Endeavor, which have been widely copied in other con-
ventions throughout the world. It is evident that to tell the
story of such a gathering in a few paragraphs is a difficult
task, since the records, the pen-pictures, and the addresses of
each of these great conventions fill a large volume.

But the history of Christian Endeavor cannot be written,
its influence estimated, or its growth accounted for without
making these gatherings prominent in its story.

A Christian Endeavor Convention Audience in Boston.

I pass over in this connection the conventions of 1893 ^^^
1894, the one held in Montreal and the other in Cleveland,
not because they were not as memorable and important as any
in the long series, but because a choice must be made, and
only a few of the many can be described in any detail. These
conventions of 1893 and 1894, ^^^o, are alluded to elsewhere.

In 1895 the Christian Endeavor hosts gathered in Boston.

The Great Conventions. 137

For various reasons this was the largest convention held up to
this date, and perhaps the largest ever held in the
Boston history of the Society, though it is difficult to say
o?"i8o5**^" with absolute certainty, since it is impossible always
to record the full attendance. But Boston was, and
had been for many years, the headquarters of the United Soci-
ety. It was the centre of the most thickly settled Christian
Endeavor district in America; it possessed more attractive
historic associations than any other city of the continent;
it enjoys the refreshing breezes of the Atlantic coast; and all
these side attractions combined to swell the attendance to the
unprecedented number of 56,425 delegates actually regis-
tered. Of these just about half, or 28,000, came from outside
the State of Massachusetts, while the Bay State furnished
the rest.

It was known in advance that no hall in the city would
begin to accommodate the eager throng who would wish to
attend the convention; and so, though the headquarters were
established in Mechanics' Hall, with an audience-room hold-
ing six thousand people, and with numberless side rooms and
smaller halls for the accommodation of committees and State
delegations, some other places of meeting, it was foreseen,
must be provided. For this purpose two enormous tents
were made, and were christened "Tent Williston" and "Tent
Endeavor," each of which accommodated fully ten thousand
people, while two thousand more standing just outside the
canvas could join in the music, and often hear the addresses.

The city was gay with bunting by day and brilliant with
welcomes in electric lights by night. Some merchants ex-
pended hundreds and even thousands of dollars for decora-
tions of various descriptions, while the city fathers co-oper-
ated most heartily with the committee from the beginning.
The historic "Common," which is so sacred in the eyes of
Bostonians, was given over to the Endeavorers for the time

138 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

being, and the great audience-tents were pitched there, with
other smaller ones necessary to accommodate the press, the
hospital, etc., near by. The Public Garden was decorated
by the city gardeners with Endeavor emblems and mottoes,
and everywhere throughout the parks could be read the le-
gends, "For Christ and the Church," "Not to be ministered
unto, but to minister," while festooned archways with the
words "Welcome to Boston" conspicuously displayed im-
pressed Endeavorers with the heartiness of their greeting
from the Hub.

Even before they reached the city they found
T^f. the stations for twenty miles around Boston dec-

Daily ■'

Papers oratcd in Christian Endeavor colors. The press
Convention, caught the Spirit of the movement at an early day,
and in advance devoted, in the aggregate, hundreds
of columns to the coming convention, while their reports of
the meetings when they occurred, embellished, as they often
were, with colored plates and half-tone pictures, as well as
with a multitude of illustrations of the ordinary newspaper
variety, went far beyond anything of the kind that had ever
been attempted by American journalism in the past.

Not only did Boston papers give voluminous reports of
the convention, but those outside of "the Hub" evidently re-
garded it as a great event. One paper published in Chicago
sent seven of its staff to Boston to report the meetings, and
gave by telegraph three or four pages each day concerning
the convention, a marvellous feat in journalism, indeed, when
it is remembered that it was a purely religious gathering that
was thus recorded.

Another Chicago editor, not to be outdone in generosity
and enterprise, telegraphed to Boston an ofifer of $5,000 each
year for three years if the United Society would move its
headquarters to Chicago. For obvious reasons this generous
of]fer was declined, but if, as the proverb says, "money talks,"

The Great Conventions. 139

it indicated the wide-spread interest in the convention and
the movement for w^hich it stood. More than any of its prede-
cessors the Boston convention of '95 was an "International
Convention," though for some years this name had been given
to them because of the hearty co-operation of the Canadians
with their brethren in the United States. To this gathering
came a number of accredited delegates from Great Britain,
among them the Rev. Knight Chaplin, secretary of the Brit-
ish Union; the Rev. John Pollock from Scotland; Messrs.
Lamont and Montgomery from Ireland, Burgess
from^^ ^^ from Wales, and Mursell from England, all of
Lands!* them, then and ever since, prominent in British
Christian Endeavor circles, and all of them adding
eloquence and interest to the convention.

The president of the New South Wales Union, the Rev.
W. J. L. Closs, also contributed to the success of the meeting,
travelling half around the world to be present, and returning
home the second day after the convention closed.

Good citizenship and world-wide missions had been
adopted before as two of the distinctive features of Christian
Endeavor, much attention having been given to them in the
president's address at Montreal in 1893; but they were espe-
cially emphasized at the Boston convention. The historic
ground on which this convention met made this almost inevi-
table. Bunker Hill* and Plymouth Rock, Salem and Con-
cord and Lexington, the old. North Church and the Old
South, with their thrilling Revolutionary memories, were all
accessible to the Endeavorers, who to the largest degree
availed themselves of their privileges. The historic pilgrim-
ages undertaken the day after the formal convention closed
were among the most interesting features of all, and the patri-

* To avoid the appearance of bombast and boasting over old-time enemies,
mixed with present-day patriotism, British speakers as well as American were
heard at Bunker Hill and Lexington, and "God Save the King" was almost as
popular as " My Country, 'tis of Thee."

140 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

otism of every young American was stirred afresh as he
looked at the memorable spots where his fathers suffered and
died. Indeed, the Boston papers acknowledged that in a
isense the Endeavorers had discovered to Bostonians them-
selves their own historic sights, for the graves of Otis and
Adams, and John Eliot, and John Hancock, and many other
worthies, were sought out with reverent and loving zeal by a
multitude of eager young people.

At Salem the delegates saw the church where the first
American foreign missionaries were ordained, and fired their
missionary zeal by sitting on the very bench occupied by these
pioneers of modern missions.

Among the interested spectators at this convention was
Dr. Samuel F. Smith, the author of "America," and we may
well close this chapter with part of the hymn, almost the last
that came from his gifted pen, which he wrote for the conven-
tion. As the venerable and revered poet came forward to
read it, the presiding officer suggested that he be greeted in
perfect silence with the Chautauqua salute. "It was a won-
derful white wave," say the reporters of the convention, "that
the venerable patriot beheld, but the love and enthusiasm of
the ten thousand Endeavorers gathered in Tent Endeavor
could not be restrained or be satisfied with anything less than a
rousing "three cheers." Then in complete stillness he read
his hymn of greeting, which was sung with tremendous effect.
The last two verses of this fine hymn are as follows:

"Onward with purpose brave,
To seek, to lift, to save,

For God, for man.
Not ours to seek delay,
Nor squander one brief day,
Not ours to waste in play

Life's fleeting span.

The Great Conventions. 141

"All hail, triumphant Lord!
Fulfil Thy gracious word,

And take Thy throne.
Like watchmen at Thy gate
Thy youthful servants wait;
Assume Thy regal state,

And reign alone."

CHAPTER XI.
LONDON AND NINGPO.

TWO TYPICAL CONVENTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF
THE GLOBE, EACH OF WHICH WAS EXCEEDINGLY IN-
FLUENTIAL IN ITS OWN HEMISPHERE, ARE HEREIN
SET FORTH.

" London is boldly summoned this week to think about re-
ligion, and to think of it as Endeavi . The challenge is a
good one, and this form of it is admirable. The youthful
host, whose white tents are now gleaming on the city's north-
I ern heights, proclaim by their title that Christianity, as they
' apprehend it, is above all things a call to do something. And
this is a statement of the case in which the critics will find
it terribly hard to pick holes. When dealing with religion
as a doctrine or as an institution, the assailant often enough
has a task quite to his mind. When he meets it as the sheer
enthusiasm of goodness, as an organized energy for the world's
betterment, there is simply nothing for him to say."

The Christian World, London.
" It [the convention in Ningpo] was the most wonderful
sight ever witnessed in China."

Archdeacon Moule, of the Church Missionary Society.

F it is difficult to write the story of the conventions
^ when the delegates are largely the representatives
of one continent how shall we describe a conven-
tion which opened its doors east and west and
north and south to delegates from every conti-
nent, for "London, 1900," was the first great World's Con-
vention? The World's Union, to be sure, had been formed
in Boston five years before, and its first meeting was then
held, with delegates from many lands present, though no ef-

142

London and Ningpo. 143

fort to secure a world-wide representation had been made in
advance of the formation of the Union.

London, however, was in the fullest sense of the term a
World's Convention, and its report fills a large volume of
264 double-column pages. Even in this, many of the ad-
dresses are given but in outline.

Outside of Great Britain, America, as was natural, sent
the largest contingent to the convention, though the awtul
catastrophe which resulted in the burning of the Saale and
other North German Lloyd steamers, on which most of the
delegates were to have embarked, interfered with the num-
ber of those who would otherwise have gone, and prevented
hundreds of those who had started from reaching London be-
fore the convention was entirely over. However, it is
thought that nearly two thousand American delegates were
present, and a hundred from Australasia; and almost every
other land was represented by larger or smaller delegations.

Christian Endeavor work on the continent of Europe,
except in Germany, was then in its infancy; but the vigorous
growth in Continental countries since then is one proof of the
value of the World's Convention of 1900.

"For the first time in its history," says the official report
of the convention, "the gray old city of London was deco-
rated in honor of a religious gathering. Flags and mono-
grams in red and white — the Convention colors —
Decorations, fluttered across Ludgate Hill, and showed cheer-
fully against the grim walls of Newgate, while in
many parts of the metropolis, from the dignified West to the
plebeian East, and even in the suburbs, there were Christian
Endeavor monograms, bright touches of the convention col-
ors; and here and there a line of flags stretched across the
road, all speaking mute greetings to the World's Convention.
To delegates from some less conservative regions these decora-
tions may have seemed less impressive than they did to Lon-

144 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

doners themselves, who were best able to appreciate the signifi-
cance of adornments that have hitherto been reserved for civic
or royal processions and rejoicings over the success of British
arms. Amusing stories came to hand of startled non-En-

London International Christian Endeavor Convention.

deavorers who asked, 'Has there been another victory?' En-
deavorers felt inclined to answer in the affirmative."

Many were the greetings and from many lands. The
lord mayor of London, the Bishop of London, Dean Farrar,
beloved of all Americans, Dr. Parker and Hugh Price
Hughes, "Ian Maclaren," Dr. Alexander McLaren, Presi-

London and Ningpo. 14^

dent McKinley, and Ambassador Joseph H. Choate all sent
welcomes of the most cordial description.

The problem of finding audience-room for the vast
throng was solved by the committee by securing the Alexan-
dra Palace, whose largest hall was seated for nearly twenty
thousand persons, while various smaller audience-rooms and
two large tents accommodated the lesser meetings.

But, while this was the headquarters of the convention,
nearly all the other large halls and churches in London were
used at some time during the meetings. Thus the opening
welcome meeting was held not only in the Alexandra Palace,
but in the Royal Albert Hall, which was packed from floor
to dome; and Exeter Hall, the Metropolitan Tabernacle, the
City Temple, Wesley's Chapel, and many other famous and
historic churches and halls were in requisition.

On the platforms of this convention were heard the great-
est pulpit orators of three continents. The names of some of
the speakers need only to be mentioned to prove that this
statement is no exaggeration. Among them were the Rev.
F. B. Meyer, the beloved president for that year of the Brit-
ish Christian Endeavor Union; the Rev. Joseph Parker, D.
D., Dr. John Clifford, the Bishop of London, the Rev. R. F.
Horton, D. D., the Rev. Maltbie D. Babcock, D. D., Dr.
Floyd W. Tomkins, the Rev. George C. Lorimer, D. D., the
Rev. W. F. Frackleton, the president of the Australasian
Union — but where shall I stop in this enumeration, for time
and space would fail me to tell of McNeil and Patterson and
Spurgeon and McElveen and Barrett and Belsey and Hasse
and Hill and Baer and Wells and Pollock and Moule and
Home and Harada and Peloubet and Parr and Smellie and
Stead, and noble women not a few.

But, not to make this history simply a chronicle of names,
let me describe one or two meetings a little more in detail.
Perhaps the one entitled "The Messages of the Churches" was
10

146 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

as characteristic as any. The president of the World's Union
was asked to preside over this meeting, and British
Messages representatives of the great denominations were the
Ch V^hes speakers, the Rev. J. O. Greenhough for the Bap-
tists, the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes for the Metho-
dists, the Bishop of London for the Church of England, Dr.
Joseph Parker for the Congregationalists, and Rev. William
Watson for the Presbyterians. Seldom have more great pul-
pit orators been assembled upon one platform, and the audi-
ence w^as worthy of the speakers.

The programme committee had wisely arranged for the
Junior rally to begin in another hall a little later, by way of
a counter-attraction, but even then these halls would not hold
half of those who sought admittance, and Tent Endeavor was
crowded with an overflow meeting addressed by eminent
speakers from England and America.

Perhaps I cannot do better than to give a few sentences
from the message of each of these great representatives of
the churches.

The Bishop of London, the scholarly Dr. Creighton,
dwelt upon the spirit, "the temper," with which we should
do our work as more important than the acts themselves.
These were his concluding words:

"To go back to Christ, to fix our eyes upon Him, to seek
His temper, to try and make that temper ours — that must
be the constant thought of one who is striving to do good
in His name. I would leave with you that message, and
that message only. I would venture to put it in the simplest
form of an apothegm: 'Take care of your temper, and your
energies will take care of themselves.' Not by what you
deny, not by what you violently assert, but by the spirit and
temper which you take with you into the small things of life,
by the grace and the beauty, the humility, the self-sacrifice
with which you pursue the ordinary current of your daily

London and Ningpo. 147

life, will you turn the hearts of others to see not you and your
objects, but to see shining through you the earnest, the assur-
ance of a power which the world does not contain.

" 'Remember, every man God made
Is different, has some work to do.
Some deed to work. Be undismayed:
Though thine be humble, do it too.' "

Dr. Joseph Parker, in his address nominated
jo*^eph the President of the World's Union and Dr. C. M.

Address! Sheldon for president and vice-president of the
United States* (the presidential campaign of 1900
was just beginning), and then went on to speak for Congre-
gationalism as follows:

"Many a man comes into my vestry after a Thursday-
morning service, and says, 'I am a High Churchman.' I say,
'So am I.' No church in the world can be too high for me,
if by 'high' is meant noble ambition, opportune prayer, faith,
aspiration after the throne and after the spirit of Christ.

"He may be succeeded by a man who says, 'I belong
to the Low Church.' I say, 'So do I.' No church can be
low enough for me, if it means going out after that which is
lost until it is found. If it means going down to people for
the express purpose of bringing them up higher, then the
lower the better and the more Christlike.

"Then says a good friend, 'I am a Baptist minister.' I
say, 'So am I.' You cannot have too much baptism. If you
are baptized by the Holy Ghost and with fire, all the clouds
of heaven would be too few for such a baptism as I desire —
the baptism of the Spirit, not a passionate enthusiasm; an
utter consecration and dedication to the cross of Christ. 'I
am a Methodist.' 'So am I' — if by Methodism you mean
repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,

* One of the minor political parties of the United States, which polled a few
thousand votes at this election (the United Christian party) took Dr. Parker's
suggestion seriously and literally, and promptly acted upon it ; but Dr Clark and
Dr. Sheldon as promptly declined by a telegram from London.

148 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

and even a penny a week and a shilling a quarter. I don't
mind going in for the whole idea.

"The idea, therefore, of selecting me to represent any
one denomination — to represent Congregationalism! There
is not an 'ism' of a merely ecclesiastical kind under heaven
that I would get myself wet through for." (It was an in-
tensely hot day, and he was perspiring at every pore.)

" 'Endeavorers' is a very good name, but how would you
represent the opposite and conflicting idea? You will find
an answer where you find everything that is good — in the
Bible. We read there of endeavorers and also of devourers.
That is the antithetic term. You must belong to either one
class or the other. * * * Resist the devil. Your adver-
sary, the devil, goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour. The difference between the Endeavorer and
the devourer is that the devourer takes the easiest policy. The
devil always takes an easy course — the course of destruction.
This sumptuous, if somewhat barbaric, building required two
years to have the roof put on. I will undertake under given
conditions to blow it to pieces in five minutes. There is noth-
ing so easy as destruction. The Endeavorer has taken the
harder work of building. He is a supporter. Take that great
Academy in London just now. There are perhaps hundreds,
if not thousands, of beautiful pictures within the walls of the
Academy. They took months to paint, and would have taken
many years if they had all been done by one man. Give me
an hour, and I, with pail and brush, will blot out your Acad-
emy, and you will not find it an hour after you have left
me to my destructive ways. Have nothing to do with the
destroyer, the dynamitard. Join you the brave, strong men
who want to make the world better in the name of Jesus
Christ."

Here is a characteristic passage from the ad-
Hugh dress of Dr. Hugh Price Hughes, who was a warm

H'^'^^hes friend of Christian Endeavor, and who greatly re-
gretted the departure of some Methodists in Eng-
land and the United States from the international fellowship:

"Perhaps you will allow me to give you Wesley's own

London and Ningpo. 149

definition of Methodism, which is the best, and, as I am the
most old-fashioned Methodist extant, I beg to refer you all
to the original definition. 'A Methodist,' says Wesley, 'is
one who arranges his life according to the method laid down
in the New Testament.' So that we are as good as the
Baptists, after all. And as Methodism did not originate in
a quarrel, however legitimate (for sometimes you are obliged
to quarrel), but in an intense desire to become better Chris-
tians, all true Methodists have always been true catholics.
We are the friends of all and the enemies of none; therefore
surely I ought to be at home here to-day. And, in the words
of John Wesley, 'I desire to form an alliance, ofifensive and
defensive, with every true soldier of Christ.' This is our
message."

'Phe Perhaps the man most sought after throughout

^^^^Z. the convention was Rev. Charles M. Sheldon,

Sought= . , '

After whose remarkable book "In His Steps," of which

a million copies had been sold, seemed to have been
read by every man, woman, and child in Great Britain, every
one of whom w^as anxious to see the author, on this, his first
appearance before the British public. Wherever he spoke,
in hall or church, the sidewalk was crowded with disap-
pointed throngs who could not find entrance. His "workers'
conferences" and "pastors' meetings," where in the simplest
way he answered all sorts of questions, were centres of intense
interest. The questions were of all kinds, from all sorts and
conditions of men, and ranged from the vast industrial prob-
lem, "Is it possible to reconcile the teaching of Jesus with
the competition of business?" to such personal questions as
"Do you smoke, Mr. Sheldon?" or the domestic query, "Is it
right for a brother to make his wife stay at home to cook his
Sunday dinner?" On all of these Mr. Sheldon brought to
bear his practical, consecrated common sense and Yankee
shrewdness.

The Junior rally was one long to be remembered. One

150 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

of the newspapers described it as "a daylight fairy tale," and
the largest hall in the Alexandra Palace was crowded to the
doors in spite of the other popular meetings that were being
carried on. The Rev. Carey Bonner, who presided over this
meeting, has a genius for controlling Juniors, as has been
well said. They were instantly obedient to his slightest sig-
nal, though the audience of older people were so uncontroUa-

The Children's Choir at the London International Christian Endeavor Convention.

hie in their expressions of appreciation that, to restore quiet,
Mr. Bonner had to exhibit a great placard on which was
printed "SILENCE!"

The praise service, the temperance demonstration, the
citizenship meetings, the great missionary gatherings, filling
two tents and two great halls, the national rallies, and the
mighty evangelistic meetings were all worthy of extensive

London and Ningpo, 151

comment; but the report of the consecration-meeting in the
Central Hall (several others were conducted in other halls
at the same time) must close the story of this convention. In-
dividual societies, even unions, could not be represented in
this vast audience, but only delegates from different coun-
tries. Even these must be brief, but their responses showed
the world-wide spirit, cosmopolitan character, and the con-
secrated devotion of Christian Endeavor as nothing else
could do.

^ The delegations arose in their places, now a

Wonderful p-rcat host of Americans, or Endeavorers from the

Lonsecra= "^ , '

tjon ^ home countries, and now a handful of Spaniards

or Germans, or a solitary representative of far-ofif
Japan.

Australia began w^ith

. "Blest be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love;"

and Canada followed with

"Nearer, my God, to Thee;"

the young patriots from the United States sang

"My country, 'tis of thee,
"Sweet land of liberty;"

while the delegates from the West Indies prayed in song,

"Bind Thy people, Lord, in union
With the wondrous cord of love;
Let a spirit of communion,

Lord, be ours with theirs above!"

Mexico, South Africa, China, Samoa, Japan, Ireland, Scot-
land, and England followed as they were called upon. The
Spanish delegates sang a hymn in their own language.

152 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Egypt responded,

"'The Nile is rising!' the river of the water of life in
Egypt."

India's delegates, when called upon, answered,

"The Christian Endeavor Society is, under God, the
chief hope of India's salvation."

The Turkish representatives aroused much sympathy be-
cause of the hard estate of Christians in that land, when they
said,

"In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto
my God."

In Switzerland the work had but just begun, and the ap-
propriate response of her Endeavorers was,

"Vois, Seigneur, ma famille est pauvre en Manasse, et
je suis le plus petit dans la maison de mon pere. Et I'ange
dit, Je serai avec toi."

"O my Lord, behold, my family is poor in Manasseh,
and I am the least in my father's house. And the Lord said
unto him, Surely I will be with thee." Judg. 6: 15, 16.

From Germany came the hearty response:

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Neh. 8: 10.
This was repeated, and then the delegation sang:

"Einer ist's an dem wir hangen,
Der fiir uns ist in den Tod gegangen,
Und uns erkauft mit seinem Blut.
Unsre Leiber, unsre Herzen,
Gehoren Dir, Du Mann der Schmerzen, gut.
In deiner Liebe ruht

Nimm uns zum Eigenthum,
Bereite Dir zum Ruhm
Deine Kinder!"

London and Ningpo. 153

"One there is to whom we belong,
Who has gone into death for us,

And bought us with His blood.
Our bodies, our souls.
Belong to Thee, Thou Man of Sorrows,
In Thy love
Take us for a possession.
Thy children."

The Welsh delegates sang, as only the Welsh can sing:

"Cyniru i Crist! Hyfrydaf gri,
Seinied rhwng ei bryniau hi,
Nes i'r pentref, tref-pob lie
Dderbyn resol rodd y Ne' ;
Taener y newyddion gwell,
Rhwng y Dee a Gowan bell,
Nes d'wed plant hofif Walia wen,
'Christ yn Frenin ac yn Ben.' "

"Wales for Christ — let that glad strain
Echo through her hills again.
Till each hamlet, town, and place
Knows of Christ's redeeming grace;
From the Dee to Gowan's Head
Let the blessed news be spread.
Till each child of Wales shall own
Christ as King, and He alone."

And England closed the responses at this glorious soul-
stirring meeting by singing with the magnificent volume of
ten thousand voices,

"When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss.
And pour contempt on all my pride."

154

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

FROM LONDON TO NINGPO.

It is a far cry from London to Ningpo; but, when we
reach this typical Chinese city on the river of the same name,
we find the same spirit, the same warm hospitality, the same
blessed fellowship, the same deep spirituality, even, to a large
extent, the same topics discussed, and the same hymns sung.

"For the first time in the history of Christian work in
China," says Christina K. Cameron, an American Endeav-

^r-^-x^

ImM

tv^*-f '

-I^^W'-rik^^ ^"^K ^

'%.-

"^^^^^ ^"

The Ningpo Convention Committee.

orer who had the privilege of enjoying the convention, "mes-
sages were received from all eighteen provinces, and more
than a hundred letters of greeting came from various parts of
the world. The spiritual tone of the convention equalled, if
it did not excel, anything of my previous experience. From
the opening of the welcome meeting till the close of the con-
secration-service, four days later, there was a deep sense of
the presence of the Holy Spirit.

"Those in the home land have no conception of the im-
pression that was made in Ningpo, a heathen city, by the gath-
ering together for praise and prayer of fifteen hundred na-

London and Ningpo. 155

tive Christians from all parts of this vast empire. Many
had walked fifty or sixty miles ; others came on house-boats,
and still others in sedan-chairs or wheelbarrows. It took
months for some of them to reach the convention, for travel
in China is slow."

The convention theme was "The Life, the Work, the Op-
portunity, of Endeavorers in China;" and their life, their
work, and their opportunity throughout China were all en-
larged and improved by this remarkable convention.

Says the Rev. J. Martin, the principal of the Church
Missionary Society College, of Foochow: "The convention
hall from a distance did not seem at all an interesting place,
and had no artistic beauties. It was an improvised, rough
building of corrugated iron, wood, and reeds, erected in the
playground of the Presbyterian Academy. On reaching the
hall we found it more imposing; and, when we entered, we
were struck with its beauties and brilliancy. The national
flags of China, Japan, England, and the United States were
in profusion, and the Christian Endeavor banners from vari-
ous districts of China, exhibiting the art and craftsmanship
of the Chinese, were hanging in all parts of the hall; and
here and there were some from Japan. Chinese lanterns and
foreign lamps added to the radiancy. Almost every seat was
occupied, and there was a reverent and devout congregation
of about two thousand.

"When the delegates were asked to stand up, we saw lit-
tle groups from Japan, America, Honolulu, Korea, from
nearly every province of China, and one from Paris. The
Ningpo Christians gave all a very hearty welcome, and it was
inspiring to hear the delegates replying each in his or her own
tongue. The principal speeches were delivered in English,
Mandarin, and Ningponese."

Some of the most eminent missionaries of many denomi-
nations in China addressed the convention, among others the

156

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

venerable and venerated Archdeacon Moule, and Dr. Arthur
^ H. Smith, the most eminent of writers on China

Remarkable and things Chinese.

Scene a i i

in ^ A remarkable feature of this convention was

the presence of the three leading Chinese officials of
the province on the platform with their secretaries and other
followers. These were the taotai, or intendant of the circuit;
the chi-fu, or prefect; and the hsien, the city magistrate. Dr.
Arthur Smith gave an address at this session in Mandarin on
"The Duty of Native Christians to Their Emperor and
Country." This was keenly followed, we are told, by the
three mandarins, who each said a few words after Dr. Smith

The Ningpo Officials.

was through, exhorting all to conform to the teaching of
Christianity. "Do what your holy book exhorts, and you will
not do wrong," was one of the sentences from the addresses by
these Chinese officials.

But this meeting had a sequel, for on the last day of the
convention these mandarins invited the foreign missionaries
and guests to a Chinese feast, the first time, it is said, that

London and Ningpo. 157

such an honor was ever conferred by such officials upon for-
eign Christians. Mr. Martin's account* of this feast is so
picturesque that I must quote it entire:

"Each table was covered with a white linen cloth, and
every guest was provided with two ivory chop-sticks tipped
with silver, a silver fork and spoon, with a small silver ladle,
a paper napkin, and a toothpick. The centre space on the
tables was left for the courses served up in basins, one at a
time. The menu was:

"*i. Birds'-nests soup.

2. Cold duck.

3. Sharks' fins.

4. Fish patties.

5. Stewed chicken and bamboo shoots.

6. Meat dumplings, boiled in tea oil.

7. Fish soup, cod with liver. (A good way of tak-

ing cod-liver oil!)

8. The Three Genii, meat balls containing mutton,

pork, and fish with bamboo shoots.

9. Chinese cups of boiling tea,'

"The mandarins, dressed in their official garb, stood at
the door to welcome each guest, and took up the same posi-
tion when we departed.

"Thirteen tables were provided, and some eighty ladies
and gentlemen partook of the hospitality of the mandarins.
Dr. Arthur Smith saying grace and at the end suitably
voicing the thanks of the guests.

"From the luncheon-room we returned to the hall for
a consecration-meeting, after which a procession, with ban-
ners, marched down to the steamer to see the many visitors
depart.

"While waiting for the steamer to leave, the Christians
on the bund and the delegates on the steamer were singing
hymns, amongst them being 'Onward, Christian Soldiers,'
and 'God be with you till we meet again.' Thousands of
non-Christians were standing by, watching and listening, and

* Contributed to The Church of England Christian Endeai'ourer.

158 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

I am sure it was a good object-lesson to them and others.
During the last three days, we of different nationalities, of
different churches, and of different societies had been meet-
ing as one body, united in one Lord and Saviour, the Lord
Jesus Christ."

After reading such glowing accounts of the character
and influence of this convention we cannot wonder that Arch-
deacon Moule, who has known China for almost half a cen-
tury in connection with his great work for the Church Mis-
sionary Society, should say, "It was the most wonderful sight
ever witnessed in China."

CHAPTER XIL

WONDERFUL GATHERINGS IN AUSTRALIA
AND INDIA.

HEREIN IS FOUND THE STORY OF TWO MORE REMARK-
ABLE GATHERINGS IN WIDELY SEPARATED CONTI-
NENTS, WHICH TELL OF THE ADAPTABILITY OF
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR TO ALL CLIMES.

" Your body stands prominent among the organizations which
strive toward a realization of interdenominational and inter-
national Christian fellowship, as well as among those which
stand for ideals of true citizenship." Theodore Roosevelt.

" The more I have to do with Christian Endeavor, the
more I believe in its great value to India, and the more I am
ready to push it." Rev. Robert A. Hume, D.D.,

Ahmednagar, India.

VEN the briefest account of Christian Endeavor
U conventions would be incomplete if no allusion
were made to the great Australasian assemblies,
for in the lands of the Southern Cross they have
attained in some respects their highest perfection.
To be sure, the Endeavor constituency is not there so large as
in America or Great Britain; but the audiences often num-
ber thousands, and, as in other countries, the largest buildings
that can be obtained are packed to their utmost. Seldom
have I seen such magnificent gatherings of young people as
it has been my joy to greet in the beautiful town halls or ex-
position buildings of Sydney and Melbourne and Adelaide and
Brisbane. Earnest, unconventional, highly intelligent, deep-
ly spiritual companies of Christian youth are they, who are

159

i6o

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

laying well the foundation-stones of the commonwealth of the
southern seas, the true Pilgrim Fathers and Mothers of a
great, new nation, who some day will be looked
upon as are the pilgrims of Plymouth Rock and
the Puritans of Boston and Providence.

At one of these conventions, held in the city of
Adelaide, this idea that the Australian youth of to-day are the
architects of their country's future was well illustrated in the
Junior rally entitled "The Building of a Commonwealth."

The Build=
ing of a
Common=
wealth.

The Town Hall, Sydney, Australia, Where the Christian Endeavor
Convention Was Held.

Before the great audience was a huge model of Australia
made of tin, some ten feet in diameter. The different states
were marked ofif according to their boundaries, Western Aus-
tralia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and
Queensland, with little Tasmania below and the Bass Straits
running between. With songs and recitations one Junior

Gatherings in Australia and India. i6i

after another came forward, and placed upon the map a char-
acteristic virtue, for which each state should stand —
"Strength," "Purity," "Honor," "Gentleness," etc., and the
whole exercise with picturesque force told these thronging
Juniors how they must build these virtues into their new com-
monwealth.

Of course many of the features of the Australian conven-
tions are much the same as those in other English-speaking
lands, but sociability and good fellowship are provided for as
in no other country by the "tea-meetings," which in these
Christian Endeavor conventions have passed all records,
claiming the largest halls in the city for their own, and often
furnishing refreshment and kindly entertainment for thou-
sands of delegates at a time.

These tea-meetings, sometimes called "tea-fights" or
"bun-struggles" by irreverent young Australians, are as a rule
most delightful gatherings; but one that I remember in Ade-
laide surpassed all records so far as my experience goes.

The town hall was given up to it, and twenty-
A Tea eight large tables, representing: different countries,

Meeting in f . , ^ • j j.^r

Adelaide. which Were assigned to ditrerent societies, were
spread with tempting viands, beautiful flowers, and
the delicious fruits for which South Australia is famous, as
well as meats and cakes and sweets of all kinds, and the inevita-
ble tea.

The tables were filled and cleared, and filled again and
again, until nearly two thousand people had sat down to a sub-
stantial repast. But the chief interest of this meeting lay in its
cosmopolitan significance. It represented an "international
tea-meeting" for an international society. India had its table,
decorated with the products of that vast peninsula. The Chi-
nese table had its characteristic features, with waiters in Chi-
nese costume serving the viands. Japan was dainty and beau-
tiful, as Japan always is. Ceylon and Burmah and Asia Mi-
ll

i62 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

nor had their characteristic features. Scotland was represent-
ed there, too, and Ireland, and England, of course. The Cape
Colony table had for its centre piece of decoration a great bank
of white flowers representing Table Mountain at Cape Town;
Egypt had a model of the Pyramids. New Zealand's table
was decorated with a Maori house. Spain, France, Germany,
Canada, and Mexico were all there, and all unique, character-
istic, and beautiful.

Of American cities, Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia
were specially honored by having tables named for them.
The decorations of the Philadelphia table were very quiet and
subdued, mostly of drab, as becomes a Quaker city, but withal
very charming and tasteful, while the waiters, who looked out
from under demure Quaker bonnets, were gracious and comely
to look upon in their sober gray. Chicago was brilliant and
bright; Boston, sedate and intelligent, complete in every re-
spect, except that I saw no pot of baked beans displayed.

The Commonwealth of Australia was represented by vari-
ous characteristic features, chief of which were a little kanga-
roo and an emu and other Australian birds and animals, sur-
rounded by a wealth of Australian flowers.

. The Williston table had the place of honor at the head of
the room. It was beautifully decorated, and the fair waiters
each wore a white sash with the words "Williston Christian
Endeavor" painted upon it.

Together with the other invited guests I sat at the Willis-
ton table, and can assure the original Williston Christian En-
deavorers that they never in their own beautiful church spread
a more hospitable and generous board than that which was
named for them in Adelaide.

The very spirit of international fellowship and good will
reigned supreme. How could it be otherwise? The genius of
a world-wide fellowship was represented there; happy faces,
sparkling eyes, and glowing words of greeting met us every-

Gatherings in Australia and India. 163

where; and in the deeply devout and religious atmosphere
we had a little foretaste of the time when every nation and
tribe and kindred and tongue shall sit down at the marriage-
supper of the Lamb.

But it must not be supposed that the social fea-
Fervor^ tures by any means monopolized the attention of
'" ^ ,. Australian Endeavorers. In no part of the world

Australia. _ ...

are the meetings more full of genuine spiritual fer-
vor than in the great island continent. The sunrise prayer-

In the Australian Bush.

meetings, the vigorous and eloquent addresses, and especially
the crowning consecration-meetings, which are nowhere sur-
passed, give their own tone to these mighty gatherings.

A personal letter from the treasurer* of the Australasia

* Mr. J. B. Spencer, of Sydney.

164 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Union, just received as I write, tells of their last national con-
vention. It w^as held in Hobart, in Tasmania, and a w^hole
steamship was chartered by the Endeavorers of the larger
island to take the very considerable journey which separates
old Van Diemen's Land of former days from her great brother.
The steamer vv^as decorated from stem to stern, and in spite of
rough and stormy seas the Endeavorers arrived in good time
in the beautiful harbor of Hobart.

"It is impossible to describe," writes my correspondent,
"the signs of God's grace which are manifest in every meeting
from morning till night, and this power increases day by day.
I wish I could fully describe our council meeting. It was a
time of joy. Every eye beaming with tearful gladness, and
the hearts so full, too full often for speech. This was closed
with a consecration council meeting in fullest surrender to
God.

"The closing meeting of the convention was most glori-
ous, and many confessed Christ. All I can say is, the Holy
Spirit was manifestly present at all our meetings. Often
there have been brief pauses when heads have been bowed,
faces covered, hearts broken, and glad and peaceful souls look-
ing up in calm wonder."

Such are the impressions made upon one of the leading
architects of Australia by the latest Australasian convention.

India's Christian Endeavor conventions are
Convention unique and in some respects the most interesting of
all. When we remember the comparatively small
Christian population, the overwhelming preponderance of
idol-worshippers, and the vast distances that separate the dif-
ferent missions, we can only wonder and rejoice that God is
using this instrumentality in the land of the Brahman in so
conspicuous a measure for the display of the power of Chris-
tianity.

Most of the conventions, owing to the distances and the

Gatherings in Australia and India. 165

poverty of the people, must necessarily be confined to limited
localities, but they are none the less striking and impressive on
this account. In Madura and Bombay and Ahmednagar and
Calcutta and Lahore and Allahabad most helpful, pictur-
esque, and remarkable meetings have been held. The India
Christians like to impress the eye and the ear as well as the in-
tellect, and their conventions are gayest of the gay w^ith ban-
ners and decorations, and triumphant with the notes of the
"cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer," or whatever
the curious-looking and odd-sounding instruments are that In-
dian Christians use. Perhaps the writer cannot do better than
to describe a typical convention which he once attended in
eastern Bengal.*

It was far away from the centre of the population, and
the delegates were a somewhat rude and primitive people; but
the convention showed, even better than one held in one of the
great cities of India could have done, the importance and pow-
er of these gatherings. I had travelled all day and nearly all
night on the Ganges River and some of its numerous tributa-
ries with one of the most eminent Baptist missionaries, the
Rev. William Carey, whose field is the very same as that so
heroically cultivated by his great-grandfather, William Carey,
the First, the pioneer of modern missions.

Very early in the morning, long before day-
Bheei^ light, we reached the little convention village of

^ some forty mud and straw houses in the very heart

of the rice-fields of Bengal. We crawled on all
fours under the low doorway of one of the houses belonging to
a Christian family, for about half the inhabitants of the village
were Christians, and threw ourselves down on a heap of straw
for a little rest. But even then the delegates had begun to as-
semble, for many of them had walked all night from their dis-

* The story of this convention is also found in the author's book entitled
" Fellow Travelers."

i66 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

tant villages to reach the town of Chabikharpar, and we could
hear the sounds of the cymbals and the tom-toms and the sing-
ing as each society arrived. At daylight we arose and went to
the chapel, which the people had built with their own money
— the best building in the village — with a good thatch roof
and walls of wood reaching nearly to the roof.

The road to the chapel was gay with plantain stalks and
red Christian Endeavor banners, for each of the fifty-two
societies represented had brought at least one banner, and
some of them four or five — not very expensive flags, to be
sure, usually only a yard of red calico with a Scripture verse
in Bengalee characters upon it; but they all added to the pic-
turesqueness of the scene.

But look! look! Of all the extraordinary scenes ever wit-
nessed at a Christian Endeavor convention, that is the most ex-
traordinary! With brass cymbals clanging, and native drums
beating, and hands clapping, a society from a neighboring vil-
lage comes dancing up to the chapel, with half a dozen red
banners streaming before it. The leader, one of the territorial
Christian Endeavor organizers, goes before to lead the proces-
sion, dancing backward, which is a very perilous operation on
the narrow, uneven road, beating time, and singing a Christian
hymn at the top of his lungs.

"Jesus, O Jesus, come into my heart;

The sight of Thy beautiful face drives trouble away.

O Jesus, come into my heart.
"Jesus, O Jesus, come into my heart;

When thou comest in, it is heaven on earth.

O Jesus, come into my heart.
"Jesus, O Jesus, come into my heart;

Seeing thee, it is cool; seeing thee, it is cool.

O Jesus, come into my heart."

We should say, "Jesus warms my heart." In this hot
clime He cools it. But, if their hearts were cool, their faces

Gatherings in Australia and India. 167

did not show it; for tiie perspiration dripped from the dancers
as they reached the chapel.

Within the chapel the dance waxed warmer and more
vigorous. Two Endeavorers, facing each other and flinging
their arms in the air, would spring from side to side with mar-
vellous agility, but never losing their self-poise or "the power"
in all the excitement. Now the tune changes, and they sing,

"The stream of love is flowing by.
The stream of love is flowing by,"

and by a wavy motion of the line they indicate the "stream of
love." Again a change and they cry out,

"There are heaps of love at the foot of the cross;
There are HEAPS of love at the foot of the cross.

and with arms outstretched and arched over they show how it
is "heaped up."

At last the song is over, and the dancers sink upon their
mats, squatting upon their heels, where they will remain im-
movable for the next three hours.

The leader then goes out, and dances another society into
the chapel in the same vigorous way, and then another, and
another, until the chapel is full.

Does any one object to this vigorous Terpsichorean type
of religion? I can only say that as actually witnessed I saw
nothing objectionable in it, though perhaps my clumsy de-
scription may seem gross and uncouth. There was no "pro-
miscuous mingling of the sexes," for all who danced were men.
It seemed a real devotional act; and I understood as never be-
fore how David "danced before the Lord."

It is sufficient to say, perhaps, that the conservative Bap-
tist mission of Bengal, the mission founded by William Carey,
sees nothing to disapprove in the service.

After all were seated, and the little chapel was crowded

i68 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

full of squatting figures, packed like sardines in a box, the ban-
ners of each society were presented, with a short address from
the president of each. Some of the inscriptions on the ban-
ners were very significant, though I cannot give them here;
but all told of faith, love, and hope. Then followed addresses
on different features of the pledge, for the Christian Endeavor
covenant is found as indispensable in Bengal as in America.
Songs were often interspersed, and there was a prayer chain in
true Christian Endeavor fashion, and many little seasons of
quiet devotion were enjoyed. Thus passed five or six hours of
almost continuous service, when the hungry delegates took a
recess of an hour in order to get something to eat. But they
soon reassembled for another session that lasted till dark.

There was not a little object-teaching by the
Chain missionaries throughout the convention. For one

Love exercise. Scripture verses bearing upon "love" were

called for. They came thick and fast from the au-
dience— "God is love," "God so loved the world," etc. As
fast as uttered they were written in Bengalee characters upon
slips of colored paper, red, blue, and green. These slips were
then deftly made into a "chain of love" with the help of a little
paste. Then a swarthy brother, a deacon in the Chabikharpar
church, of deep mahogany color, who was arrayed in his
"birthday suit," and little besides with the exception of a gir-
dle about his loins, came to the front, and with all the dignity
of a full-dress ceremonial he put the "garland of love" about
my neck. Had I been able to return the compliment with a
Christian Endeavor pin, I could hardly have fastened it to him
anywhere without hurting him. But what a beautiful sym-
bolic lesson my brother in brown taught me! His chain of
love I cherished for many a long day.

Hundreds had come to the meeting who could not get into
the chapel, or indeed anywhere near an open window; so the
closing service was held in a wide rice field near by. The

Gatherings in Australia and India. 169

170 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

closing consecration-meeting was tender and solemn, and a
time of great spiritual refreshment.

The fire kindled by the Endeavor convention
Persian idea has spread to Ceylon and Burmah and Persia
onven ion. ^^ ^q\\ Jj^ Persia, though the Society is still young,
the conventions seem to have the true Endeavor flavor. An
interesting account comes concerning the third annual conven-
tion, held in the village of Geogtapa in the Urumia plain of
northwestern Persia. "The roll-call and consecration-service
was a season of heart-searching and inspiration," says my cor-
respondent, a few lines from whose interesting report I quote
below:

"One society reported having organized a society in both
the Russian church and the Roman Catholic church of their
village. Another village, which has societies for all classes
except the old women, is expecting to organize another for
their especial benefit.

"One of the old white-headed preachers arose in the
convention, and exclaimed in amazement at the marvellous
changes that have been wrought since his youth. Then, no
woman would have thought of participating in a public meet-
ing; the young men were silent unless called upon by their
elders; but now 'both young men and maidens, old men and
children, praise the name of Jehovah,' and do active and
efficient service in the Christian Endeavor society.

"An increase of several hundred in membership was re-
ported, and a sum about equal to fifty dollars for the year's
contributions.

"The village of Geogtapa. is built upon an ash hill of
the ancient fire-worshippers, and many relics of their pot-
tery, coins, etc., have been found here. The crown of the
hill, which is several feet above the streets, is occupied by the
Syrian cemetery, many hundreds of years old. On one side,
where the earth has been washed or dug away, a section of
the cemetery, showing the narrow, stone-lined graves, one
above another, and many of them containing skeletons, is ex-
posed to view. A grewsome sight!

Gatherings in Australia and India. 171

"As I looked upon this host of intelligent, enthusiastic
young people gathered on this hill, the accumulation of cen-
turies of the ever-burning fires of those ancient inhabitants
of the land, it seemed to me that in Christian Endeavor a
truly heaven-kindled flame is burning, before whose purify-
ing and energizing influence the dead Christianity and the
false religions of this land must soon yield.

"The convention closed with an earnest and inspiring
sermon by Kasha Isaac Yonan. The delegates returned to
their villages over roads flooded by the heavy rains, in some
places wading through, or riding over on a man's back, a
not unusual method of conveyance here. All returned filled
with new inspiration, new ideas, and an earnest desire to go
forward."

CHAPTER XIII.
THE BEST YET.

WHEREIN ARE DESCRIBED SOxME OF THE MORE RECENT
CONVENTIONS IN MANY LANDS, WHICH CONCLUSIVELY
SHOW THAT CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR IS NO "SPENT
FORCE," AND THAT THE EARLY ENTHUSIASM IS AiAIN-
TAINED TO THE PRESENT DAY.

" The wonder is that one societj', with fifty members only,
in a little over twenty 3'ears, should expand into more than
sixty-four thousand societies, with nearly four million members.
There is no doubt that God's blessing is on the movement."

Sir Harry Raivson,
Governor of Neiv South Wales.

'T was thought at first that these conventions repre-
sented but a temporary phase of Christian life,
that, as they blazed up so suddenly, the fire would
die down with equal rapidity. 1 even remem-
ber one religious paper some years ago that quite
rejoiced in this prospect. The American convention of that
year, owing to its locality, numbered only some 40,000 in at-
tendance, whereas the convention of the previous year, in a
more eligible city, had reached more than 50,000 in attend-
ance. This religious editor, moved by his unfriendliness to
the general cause, took this as a sign of imminent decay, and
thanked God devoutly that the organization was waning, and
would soon be heard of no more. But his rejoicings were
premature, for reports from all over the world at the end of
the first quarter-century of the Christian Endeavor movement
show that the convention idea is not outworn. How could

172

The Best Yet. 173

it be, when it stands for fellowship and devotion, for con-
secration and religious stimulus, and for a blessed interde-
nominational brotherhood which the Protestant world has
been so long trying to realize?

To be sure, a great Endeavor convention is not so novel
and striking a thing as it was fifteen years ago, because there
are so many more of them. It may not attract so much notice
in the newspapers, because the novelty always gets the largest
"write-up." But in all essential features the conventions show
no signs of diminution or retrogression.

Indeed, so common is the advance made by each one
upon its predecessors, whether the convention be of a local, a
State, or a national character, that "the best-yet convention"
has become almost a stock phrase in Christian Endeavor
circles.

In the twenty-fifth year of Christian Endeavor Japan re-
ported the "best-yet convention" in Okayama, and Mexico
held in the city of Guadalajara "one of the best yet," and
Brazil's national gathering in Sao Paulo was "the best yet,"
and the All-Europe Convention in Berlin was surely "the best
yet" held on the continent of Europe, while many declared
that the American convention in Baltimore in not a few re-
spects was unsurpassed by any of its predecessors.

One of the most significant conventions ever held was the
one that convened in Berlin in July, 1905, the first conven-
tion of the All-Europe societies held upon the Con-
AnAii tinent, though the European Union had been or-

Conventron. ganized the year before in London, where the first
convention of the sort was held in connection with
the British national convention in 1904.

The significance of this convention lay in part in the con-
trast presented to those who remembered the small beginnings
of the work in Germany. Ten years before, the wildest an-
ticipations of those who gathered for the first little Christian

174

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Endeavor conference in Berlin could not have compassed the
thought of a great gathering in the same city in but little more
than one decade attracting to the Circus Schumann six thou-
sand persons from all ranks of society, including even a repre-
sentative of the imperial court.

Mexican Endeavorers.

The convention was welcomed by the highest church dig-
nitary of Berlin, and with true German tirelessness the dele-
gates made long sessions, morning, afternoon, and evening;
meeting from eight to one in the morning, ready for another

The Best Yet. 175

long session in the afternoon after a brief hour for lunch, and
rarely concluding the meetings before ten o'clock in the even-
ing. There was no eight-hour day for these delegates, and
they desired none. National rallies of the representatives of
many European nations were held, the Hungarian rally being
specially well attended.

Dr. Torrey, the American evangelist, was one of the
speakers at the convention. His address was very impressive,
we are told, and then followed one of the most remarkable
of all the convention sessions. ''Pastor Paul, the president of
the German union, was in charge of the meeting, which pro-
ceeded to prayer. But prayer, once commenced, was not to
be restrained ; and for a full hour the meeting went of its own
accord, prayer following prayer, two or three sometimes pray-
ing at the same time, until almost half the entire audience
seemed to be praying audibly, confessing their sins and seek-
ing fuller blessing. Time and again the meeting would swell
up into song, prayer being continually renewed as a verse
closed."

It might seem from such an account that the meeting was
confused and disorderly, but we are told that no such impres-
sion was made upon those who were present. It was simply
the outpouring of full hearts, desirous of a blessing, an out-
pouring which could not be restrained. That the convention-
goers and their leaders were as sane and level-headed as could
be desired is shown by the business meetings and the "schools
of methods," by the educational features of the convention,
and by the genuine spirituality of the services, removed in the
furthest degree from mere emotionalism.

The evening meetings were held in the open air under
the trees, and the largest of all the gatherings, the conven-
tion praise service, was held on Sunday afternoon in Circus
Schumann, seating six thousand persons. Says Mr. Stanley
P. Edwards: "The building itself was greatly impressive.

176 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

and the whole service was followed closely by the entire audi-
ence. Greetings having been given, the representatives of
each country in Europe responded in their own tongue, rais-
ing at the same time a banner, representing their own country,
around the centre ring of the building. The circle having
been completed, Rev. Horace Dutton on behalf of the World's
Union raised a large banner in the centre of the circle, bearing
a red cross on a white background, with the words 'Christ All
and in All.' The choir was composed of the joint choirs of the
State church. Baptist church, Methodist church, and Inde-
pendent churches, twelve hundred voices in all, with three
hundred trumpets in the orchestra, each choir taking part in
the services separately, and then all in concert, strikingly rep-
resenting the denominational loyalty and interdenominational
fellowship of Christian Endeavor."

To hold a great convention where Endeavorers
A Typical are numerous, and come from many lands, is not
Convention. Surprising; but to hold a "best-yet" convention in a
city without a single Endeavor society is a feat that
was reserved for Spain when her Endeavorers invited their
fellows to assemble in the city of Madrid for the second na-
tional convention in 1902. But the Protestant churches were
all hospitable; and the English Baptists, and the United Pres-
byterians, the Spanish Episcopalian church, and the German
Lutheran all opened their doors for different sessions of the
convention, and, strange to say, these churches were always
filled, for the Endeavorers had come in considerable num-
bers from all parts of Spain, desiring to make an impression
for their cause upon the capital. The native leaders were
so eloquent, and Dr. and Mrs. Gulick, who largely had charge
of the preliminary preparations, were so efficient and hos-
pitable, that the convention went off with as much vigor and
eclat as if Madrid were the very centre of the movement; and
though, to be sure, this second convention had not many prede-

The Best Yet.

cessors to compare itself with, it certainly went down into
history as the "best yet" in Spain, and I can testify to a genuine
spiritual uplift and heart-warming which I myself expe-
rienced as I met with my Spanish brethren, though the war
which had robbed Spain of all her colonies had then but just
passed into history.

IN JAPAN.

Even war's alarms seemed to have little effect on the en-
thusiasm of convention-goers, for the war-time conventions in

Christian Endeavor in Japan.

Delegates Who Attended the National Japanese Christian Endeavor
Convention at Okayama.

Japan have been the "best yet." "Simply to have held a pub-
lic annual meeting," says Dr. Pettee, "amid the distractions of
the war year, when many similar gatherings were omitted,

178 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

would have been satisfactory. But to have succeeded in the
face of many obstacles in holding one of the best of the whole
series of Christian Endeavor conventions in Japan was cer-
tainly cause for profound gratitude and renewed devotion. A
special collection was taken up for sending Christian En-
deavor and other literature to the Endeavorers who
War had gone, or yet may go, to the front. It was de-

Convention cidcd to urgc all members of Christian Endeavor
societies also to pray for the soldiers every morning
before or immediately after rising."

The patriotic note is always struck at these conventions in
Japan, and another feature which makes them highly pictur-
esque and beautiful is the display of handsomely wrought ban-
ners from societies in all parts of the empire. In this respect
Japan far exceeds any other country, and many of her most
beautiful banners have been sent to America after being first
displayed at the Japanese conventions, and have been given
to the States which have distinguished themselves in the In-
crease Campaign.

Notable and characteristic meetings have been held in
other European countries, which space does not allow me to
describe.

But a few lines must be given to the ''best yet" in Mexico,
the best being also the last. A Mexican Endeavorer thus tells
of the opening session of the convention of 1905 in Guada-
lajara:

"The meetings were held in the spacious patio of the
Adventist Sanitarium, over which had been stretched a can-
vas roof, making an ideal auditorium, with seating-capacity
for more than eight hundred people. It was thronged to the
doors at nearly every meeting, and the convention was evi-
dently the 'best yet' in every sense of the word.

"Delegates came from all over the country and from
every denomination, making it a most representative gather-

The Best Yet. 179

ing. One gentleman came representing the Mexican Pres-
byterian congregations in southern California, having trav-
elled 2,203 miles in order to be present. Others came from
the centre of the state of Sinaloa, journeying several days
on horseback before reaching the railroad, and then mak-
ing a detour through the State of Arizona by way of El Paso.
Others came from the almost equally distant state of Yucatan,
after journeying by sea as well as by land. The larger part
of the delegates present were from the populous and busy
state of Jalisco, of which Guadalajara is the capital, and
which is known by the name of the 'Pearl of the Occident.'

"Although the Catholic religion has a very strong hold
in this state, and much fanaticism is encountered, we being
welcomed with strong tirades, protests, and vituperations in
their daily papers, the delegates kept coming in from the
congregations in dozens of towns and villages where a vigor-
ous forward evangelistic movement is in progress."

As is entirely natural, such great gatherings
Aroused!'^^ naturally stir up religious animosities, where any ex-
ist, as they do in Mexico and Spain, whose first con-
vention, which I had the privilege of attending in Saragossa,
was threatened with all sorts of dire calamities by Catholic
priests and Catholic papers. This "latest and worst propa-
ganda of the Protestant faith" was intolerable in their view.
But the bitter editorials and denunciations had little elTect, ex-
cept to advertise the meetings and increase the audience,
though a few small boys shied some ineffectual stones at the
"American pigs" who had presumed to hold a meeting in the
"City of the Sacred Pillar."*

It may be interesting in this connection to notice some
of the contrasts and some of the similarities between these great
religious gatherings in the two chief branches of the English-
speaking world. These contrasts and likenesses were noted by
the writer at the close of one of the British national conven-

* The stone pillar which the people of Saragossa believe came down from
heaven to furnish a pedestal for a statue of the Virgin.

i8o Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

tions, and are recorded here for what they are worth. Pos-
sibly they will be of interest hereafter as cosmopolitan Chris-
tian Endeavor unites more and more those who speak the same
tongue, reducing their differences and emphasizing their re-
semblances. In these matters each side of the sea has some-
thing to teach the other.

Contrasts ^^^^ American Side. First, the American con-

and ventions are larger than the British, as is natural:

Likenesses.

for there is, as yet, a far larger Christian Endeavor
constituency to draw upon ; the Americans are more given to
travel; and our railway companies make larger concessions
in the way of cheap railway fares and special excursions,
Not that the British conventions are not mighty gatherings
from the mere numerical point of view, ten thousand people
often being reached at a single session; still, as is natural with
our larger constituency, larger numbers attend our American
conventions.

Second, the convention city as such seems less moved by
the convention in Great Britain than in America. You see
few banners and little bunting except over the places of meet-
ing, and we do not often see flower mottoes in the parks,
telling every spectator that the society stands "For Christ and
the Church," for "Brotherhood" and for "Peace."

Third, the press pays much less attention to a convention
than at home, but that is also true of all great religious gather-
ings. The British papers give paragraphs to such meetings
where American papers would give columns, and columns
where they would give pages.

The British side. First, the British audiences are usually
more enthusiastic, or at least much more demonstrative, than
American. They will clap and cheer their favorite speaker
for nearly five minutes at a time before he can begin his ad-
dress. They interrupt him with applause twice as frequently
as do American audiences. They show their approval with

The Best Yet. i8i

many a "Hear, hear!" "Good!" "True!" and sometimes
"Praise the Lord!" They are much easier to arouse to eager
enthusiasm, to provoke to smiles or tears. They lift a speaker
up on the wings of their own interest, and make his task far
lighter than before the average American audience. The
"Kentish fire," a steady, rhythmical, united clapping of hands
after the first volley of applause, was one of the (to me) novel
features of "Manchester, 1902." To be sure, Christian En-
deavor audiences in America are the most enthusiastic of all
American audiences, and give the speaker more support than
any other on our side of the sea, but even they might take a
leaf out of the note-book of their British brothers.

Second, the singing in British conventions is better than
ours. They sing a better class of music, and sing it with more
expression and more vigor. It is perhaps partly due to the
fact that our congregational church singing ever5rwhere is in-
finitely below the English, and we do not get the every-day
training of our friends on the other side of the water in wor-
shipful praise.

Third, with some diffidence I would say that the British
Junior Endeavor rallies surpass ours, at least, our average
rally. We have no such continued "hundred-night success"
as "The Building of the Bridge" by Mr. Hope, the pontifex
maximus of Christian Endeavor, or his "Globe Exercise," in
which children from every nation come out of a huge wooden
globe, arrayed in their proper costumes, and teach their les-
son of world-wide fellowship.

For both sides. After all, the resemblances are far
greater than the dififerences, and in many respects, as Presi-
dent Lincoln said of the two hats presented to him by rival
hatters, they "mutually surpass each other." On both sides
of the water the speaking is of an equally high order.

The "Quiet Hour" sei-vices seem more largely attended
in America, and the spiritual tone is quite as high.

i82 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

The hospitality is equally generous on both sides of the

water, and on both sides the delegates "pay their own scot,"

as independent Christian Endeavor delegates have learned to

do everywhere. The improvised inns or "hostels"

Common -^ ^

Features in the Sunday-school rooms of some of the churches

Enjoyed. . . . . n • • i

are unique features of entertamment at British con-
ventions.

The topics discussed are very much the same. Stress is
put upon International and Interdenominational Fellowship,
upon Christian Missions and Christian Citizenship, upon the
deeper life of the individual soul, and upon the distinctive
principles and practices of the Christian Endeavor Society.

On both sides the denominational rallies are great, en-
thusiastic meetings, showing the unswerving loyalty of Chris-
tian Endeavorers to their own churches.

In the New World as well as the Old the committee meet-
ings are bright, instructive, stimulating gatherings, which
show how much alive the young people are down to their
finger-tips.

In the Old World as well as the New the conventions are
deeply spiritual gatherings, whose whole trend is to deepen
the religious life of all who attend, and to send them home
more earnest and consecrated Christians than when they came.

The resemblances are far, far more than the dififerences;
for the spirit and purpose, the aim and method, of these meet-
ings in every land are the same.

The story of these conventions, however fragmentary,
should not be concluded without some reference to the inter-
national convention of 1905 at Baltimore, the last convention
of the first quarter-century, for then was inaugurated the first
efifort to put upon a permanent financial basis the
1905!"*^*^^' World's Christian Endeavor movement. Hitherto
the advancement of the Society in many lands had
depended largely upon the precarious earnings of the United

The Best Yet.

183

Society in Boston, or upon the gifts which could be raised by
its president and treasurer by personal solicitation.

In "Baltimore, 1905," however, was started the Me-
morial Fund, concerning which it is fitting that the present
writer should say but little, because of its personal relations

Baltimore Convention Building.

to him and the great honor it does him; but, if it succeeds as
its projectors and promoters hope, it will enable the World's
Union to provide the little help that will be necessary to es-
tablish and confirm the Christian Endeavor movement in
every continent and country.

In many another way was this convention memorable.
"Never have I witnessed anything to compare with it," says
a writer in The Moravian.

"It was great in numbers," writes Professor Wells,*

* In the Christian Endeavor annual of 1906.

184 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

"crowding the largest meeting-place ever used for our conven-
tions. It was great in enthusiasm, rivalling in that particular
any gathering of our host in all the past. It was a young peo-
ple's convention, the delegates being noticeably younger than
those of several years past. It was great in its evangelistic
spirit, producing more conversions than any Christian En-
deavor convention ever held. It was great in its new emphasis
on noble and uplifting music. It was great in its practical
results, sending the Endeavorers home to do better work for
Christ and the church. It proved many things about Chris-
tian Endeavor that its friends had never doubted, but that
others had, among other things, its perennial youth."

With this sentence wc may close this chapter, for these
"best-yet" conventions in all parts of the world have made evi-
dent this truth, that the movement is no ephemeral affair, the
expression of "the transient enthusiasm of beardless youth," as
it used to be called, but an abiding factor in the life of the
church, an organization that has about it, as The Missionary
Herald declares, "the marks of perpetual youth, increasing in
numbers and in vigor as it increases in years."

CHAPTER XIV.
CUI BONO?

THE EXCEEDING VALUE OF THESE GREATEST RELIGIOUS
CONVENTIONS OF MODERN TIMES, FROM AN EDUCA-
TIONAL AND PATRIOTIC AND EVANGELISTIC POINT OF
VIEW, IS THE THEME OF THIS CHAPTER.

" Let us all rejoice that this great idea of union has dawned
upon the church as well as the state. Let us all rejoice that
this glorious organization of Christian Endeavorers, delegated
from the Protestant organizations of every Christian land, is
the blossoming of a new and brighter hope for greater victories
than were ever won before by the soldiers of the cross."

Gen. Robert L. Taylor,

Nashville, Term.

|S they have been reading these accounts of multitu-
dinous conventions, some of my readers may have
been inclined to ask: "What is the use of it all?"
"Do they really pay, spiritually and intellectual-
ly, for the outlay involved of time and money and
energy?"

I cannot believe that any one who has actually attended
such a convention seriously asks this question, but it may well
have occurred to those who have not experienced their glow
and contagious enthusiasm. The leaders of the movement
have not been allowed to rest in the fancied Elysium of uni-
versal approval, for the critics of the Society have not been
slow to say on more than one occasion, especially in the early
days: "To what purpose is this waste? This ointment
might have been sold for three hundred pence and given to
the poor."

185

1 86 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

The expenses of the convention have more than once been
reckoned up, not only the initial expense of some fifteen or
twenty thousand dollars to the city inviting the gathering, but
the much larger sum spent by the delegates for car-fares, hotel'
Do the rates, and other incidentals, which has been esti-
Conventions mated bv some for such a convention as the one held

Pay r

in San Francisco or Boston to be not less than a
million dollars. "Why could not this enormous sum be given
to missions?" it has been said. "Why should not the
Christian Endeavorers deny themselves their journey and their
fellowship, and give the sum they would spend, for the con-
version of the world, which they claim is the object of their
organization?"

But those who reason in this way forget one or two im-
portant facts.

The money expended in attending these conventions is
the holiday money of the delegates. They usually pay their
own expenses, and instead of going to the seashore or the
mountains, or idling away their vacation fortnight at some
summer hotel, they spend the time in the uplifting, spiritual
atmosphere of a great religious convention, where heart and
mind are equally stirred to larger and nobler things. It is
not missionary money that goes into the railroad or hotel cof-
fers, but the personal earnings set apart for the holiday which
has become so inevitable a feature of strenuous modern life.
In fact, the missionary societies and kindred good causes are
great beneficiaries of these conventions; for the missionary
spirit is always stirred, much time and attention are given to
the great theme of the world's evangelization, and the dele-
gates go home to give as well as to pray more than ever for
these interests.

Dr. Wayland Hoyt, in one of his most efifective addresses,
speaking of the value of Christian Endeavor conventions,
compares the penny-wise and pound-foolish objections to their

Cui Bono? 187

expense, in his own dramatic way, to the stingy farmer who
was carrying home a jug of molasses slung on his
SimUe*^^'* back. He saw a pin in the road, which his eco-
nomical habits would not allow him to pass by;
and on his stooping down to pick it up the molasses poured
out, covered his head and shoulders, and left his back hair in
a terrible condition. He saved the pin, to be sure, but — he
lost the molasses.

But to refer to the more positive effects of these conven-
tions, while they cannot be formulated or exactly valued in
dollars and cents, it is not difficult to show their enormous
worth. Their educational value, for instance, though in some
sense a side issue, can scarcely be reckoned. It is thought,
for example, that in 1897 some twenty-five thousand young
people went to California to attend the convention in San
Francisco. Many of them travelled three thousand miles ; the
low railroad fares, the lowest ever granted up to that date,
made it possible for many to take the journey who otherwise
would never have seen the Pacific coast. In three weeks these
twenty-five thousand young men and women learned more
of the geography of their own country than they could learn
in three years at home. Her great cities, her boundless
prairies, her snow-capped Rockies, her fertile fruit farms of
the farther coast, all became realities to them instead of the
vague hearsay of others' lips. Their patriotism was aroused,
their love of country stimulated; and, as never before, when
they reached San Francisco, and on their return home, they
could sing,

'T love thy rocks and rills.

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above."

Add to this educational and patriotic value of such an
excursion the never-to-be-forgotten memories of those days on

i88

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

the way, the evening prayer-service in each Pullman car,
where the voice of praise and thanksgiving, though dulled by
the rattle of the train and the roar of the engine, were not by
any means silenced; the wayside meetings for train men and
platform loafers when the train stopped for coal or water; the
joyous fellowship and good cheer that prevailed throughout
the bright days, when one car-load in fantastic garb and with
improvised songs would go through all the other cars of the

Ute Indians Going lu a Lhri.-Lian Endeavor Convention
in Colorado.

long train, carrying sunshine and jollity with them — a visit
jy^^ that must be repaid by each of the other cars in

Educational rCtum.
Value

of the There are, too, the reunions of the travellers m

onven •**"^- jjfYej-gnt; cars and different trains, which take
place for years afterwards, while "California, '97," or
"Nashville, '98," or "Denver, 1905," are recalled, and the
happy days are lived over once more.

When the convention attracts many visitors from other
lands, the educational value is, of course, enlarged. "Lon-
don, 1900," gave to hundreds of Endeavorers their first and
only view of the long-dreamed-of wonders of the Old World.

Cui Bono? 189

It took them back to their ancestral homes. It enormously
widened their horizon; it weakened the spell of provincialism,
and gave them a new sense of the glory and majesty of God
in His world on sea and shore.

But these advantages are in a sense only incidental and
casual. The conventions would be well worth while, a hun-
dred times over, if only because of their religious value, which
of course is chiefly to be considered. They are the great
promoters of interdenominational fellowship. Nothing like
them from this standpoint is held from year's end to year's
end. Never less than twenty denominations meet together in
cordial and hearty brotherhood at every national convention
in America, while the world's conventions, doubtless, bring
The together twice this number of denominations.

Wonderful gyen the State conventions often have representa-

rellowsnip ^

of the tives from a dozen or more different denominations,

Conventions. , , , , . ^ , .

and those who thus meet m fraternal mtercourse,
singing together, praying together, journeying together,
comparing notes, discussing plans and ways and means
for the advancement and betterment of their work, can never
again look askance at one another. The demon of sectarian-
ism, w^hich has so embittered the church history of the past,
receives a telling blow at every great Christian Endeavor con-
vention. This dragon is by no means dead, but the St.
Michael of Christian Endeavor has dealt him in these con-
ventions many a swinging blow.

At the conventions, though they are full of life and color,
and sometimes even of noisy gayety, the yery highest emo-
tions of the human soul are touched, in the morning "Quiet
Hours," for instance, when such a man as Dr. Floyd Tom-
kins, with quiet restraint, but with intensest earnestness, points
the young people to their "Best Friend," and shows them the
supreme joy of personal communion with Him. The inspir-
ational value of such an hour cannot be reckoned in figures or

190 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

told in words; and such hours are frequent at every great
convention.

In mission lands, where such gatherings are more un-
common than in Christian America, and where the joys of
fellowship are necessarily more restricted, these efifects are
even more noticeable. One Chinese Christian, we are told,
who attended the recent national convention at Ningpo, from
an out-station where there were only ten Christians, had once
before enjoyed a gathering of a hundred believers; but, when
he came to this larger gathering, where he met with more than
a thousand of his own faith, he broke down and wept, for he
said that he had never before realized that there were so many
Christians in China. Many of the Chinese delegates went out
from those meetings to feel that they were part of a great army.

Whatever the country where the convention is held, the
patriotic note is always struck. Even in China, where there
is thought to be less patriotism than in any other country in
the world. Dr. Arthur H. Smith spoke, as we saw in a recent
chapter, on "The Duty of the Christian to His Country and
His Emperor."

At a recent British convention held in the city

Patriotism .... -

at of London a great demonstration m the mterests of

onven ions. ^ purer patriotism was held in Hyde Park, where
from the improvised platform of large drays such men of
national repute as Dr. John Clifford, Silas Hocking, and
others spoke to great throngs on the burning British questions
of the day, and stirred thousands of Endeavorers to a new
purpose to defend their country from the insidious evil of the
saloon and the artful wiles of the demagogue.

It was in 1893, at the important convention in Montreal,
the first international gathering outside of the United States,
that the president of the United Society proposed, as one of
the advance steps that Endeavorers should take, the culti-
vation of a larger and more intelligent spirit of patriotism and

Cui Bono?

191

Dr. Clark's Five Christian Endeavor Journevs in Europe,
Januar3'-September, igo2.

First Journey — Boston to Naples, Rome, Florence, Munich, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm,
Orebro, Gottenborg, Christiania, Trondhjem, Gellvare, Stockholm, Helsingt'ors, St. Tetersburg,
Warsaw, Vienna, Venice.

Second Journey — N'cnice to Prague, \'ienna, Budapest, Sofia, Samokov, Philippopolis,
Salonica, Monastir, \'enice, Florence.

Third Journey — - Florence to Venice, London, Liverpool, Manchester, Burnley, Hull, New-
castle, Bath, Cardiff, Camborne, Plymouth, Paris, Madrid, Lisbon, i'aris. Lucerne.

Fourth Journey — Lucerne to London, Uddington, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Reikiavik, London,
Geneva.

Fifth Journey — Geneva, London, Liverpool, Boston.

192 christian Endeavor in All Landso

of good citizenship. This suggestion was received with great
applause, and ever since in every great meeting, whether of
State or of nation, this has been made prominent. ''How
shall this spirit of patriotism be aroused?" was asked.

"By all joining, as a society, some one political party?
Not unless we know of some party that embraces all of the
saints and none of the rascals, one that is always right and
never wrong. But whether you are a Democrat or a Repub-
lican, a Third-Party man or a Populist, a Liberal or a Con-
servative, a Blue or a Grit, it can be done by bringing your
vote and your influence — for your influence, fair Endeavor-
ers, is often as powerful as your brother's vote — to the su-
preme test of the Christian Endeavor covenant.

"You have promised in that 'to do whatever He would
like to have you do;' then vote as He would like to have you
vote. Then you will not knowingly vote for a bad man or a
bad measure; and, if need be, you will sacrifice your party
rather than your principles.

"When politicians realize that men with principles are
watching their nominations, they will not dare to put up a
bad man for your suffrage, for they will realize what so many
of the secular papers expressed last summer, after that won-
derful convention in New York City, that there is a new
moral force in this country that must be reckoned with. Go
to the primaries of your party, and take your Christian En-
deavor covenant with you. Go to the caucus; get into your
legislature; stand for Congress or for Parliament; but, when
you get there, for God and your church and your country
do what He would like to have you do."*

►P^g The efifect of the convention on the delegates

Effect who attend has been dwelt upon, but the effect on

on the ^ ^ '

Convention the City where It is held is a no less notable and

' ^' striking feature of such a gathering, and answers

the '^Cui bono?" in emphatic terms. For once, and

for perhaps the only time in the history of some American

* From the presidential address of Rev. F. E. Clark in 1893.

Cui Bono? 193

cities, religious themes have been uppermost, and religious
motives in the ascendancy for a week at least. The sight of
the thousands of delegates, the thronging attendance in the
great halls, the mere sight of the thousands who cannot get
within their doors and are clamoring for admission, all im-
press the city of the convention with the fact that religion is,
after all, the greatest concern of human life.

"Talk about questions of the day; there is but one ques-
tion, and that is religion, and it is best solved by work among
the young," said Dr. Hill in giving his impressions of the
Baltimore convention. Seeing the throngs and the anima-
tion and the enthusiasm, he continues: "You would suppose
that these young souls had come upon something new, but you
find only the doctrines of grace, the cross, and youths brought
to it, and, as the Salvation Army people say, 'properly saved.' "

When the convention met in San Francisco, more than
one minister who had spent years upon the coast said to me,
"For the first time in my life I feel here that Christian people
are in the majority." Every church was thronged on Sun-
day. Overflow meetings, sometimes two or three of them,
were held in vestries and chapels to accommodate the people
who could not get into the main church buildings. Thou-
sands sought the sanctuary who never thought of going on or-
dinary Sundays. The convention and the great themes which
the convention discussed were upon every tongue. For a
whole week the daily papers of San Francisco agreed to leave
out all details of murder, suicide, divorce, and revolting crime.
The columns, often thus occupied, were given over to the ad-
dresses on the high moral and religious themes discussed in
the convention, and the papers for a week took on the appear-
ance of distinctively religious journals.

The evangelistic features of the conventions are always
marked, and there is an effort, not only to educate and inspire
the delegates, but to carry the blessing of Christ's salvation to

194

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

every part of the convention city, reaching the shops and the
great factories wherever it is possible, and the slums as well.
Even the State conventions often make this in these days

^ IRELAND =^^^

Christian Endeavor in Ireland.

Cui Bono? 195

a great feature of their gathering, and what is often accom-
plished is represented in a concrete way by the story of a re-
cent Ohio convention held in the city of Dayton. Here is
the interesting story as told by an Ohio pastor:*

"At the very beginning of the planning for the conven-
tion it was agreed that great emphasis should be put on evan-
Evangeiistic gelism, and that this should be a soul-saving con-
Convention vcution, that theory should be re-enforced by prac-
*"'^^' tice, that the young people might not exhaust their
time talking about how to save souls without going out to
save any.

"A committee on evangelistic work was early appointed,
and got to work. The evangelistic work was to take three
directions; first, noon meetings for men in the great shops;
second, open-air meetings on Market Street in the "red-light
district," which is an almost solid row of saloons, gambling-
houses, and places of ill repute; and, third, one evening of
the convention was to be given entirely to evangelistic work,
with one great meeting for men only and one great meeting
for women only. The results exceeded our most hopeful ex-
pectations.

"A young minister in attendance at the convention, when
asked to go and speak in one of the noon shop-meetings,
hesitated because he had never tried such work before. But
he went, and the men were so impressed by his services, and
so expressed themselves, that he will go back to his own city
to use his new-found gift in the shops. What a blessing for
this convention to set him to work where the gospel is so much
needed! From this time on the shop men of Dayton will
know what Christian Endeavor stands for, and something of
its power.

"The open-air meetings on Market Street were a revela-
tion and they were a prophecy, a revelation of how much the
worst types of men and women appreciate the chance to hear
the old gospel of warning and love, a prophecy of what
Dayton Endeavorers will try to do in the future to reach
those who have never been reached. The men swarmed out
of the saloons and gambling-places at the first sounds of the

* Rev. Frederick N. McMillin in The Christian Endeavor World.

196 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

little portable organ played by an Endeavorer; and, though
Dr. Work and the other speakers told them in no uncertain
tones where their sin would lead them if they refused their
Saviour, there was no resentment, no scoffing; the men stood
and listened as reverently as though they had been in a storied
cathedral.

"An old woman who had been through many hardships
broke down and cried; men hung their heads, convicted of
their sin. What power save God's can tell the good results
from such work as that?"

Temperance is always a burning theme in Endeavor con-
ventions in English-speaking countries, and sometimes prac-
tical temperance measures are taken, as when the Endeavorers
of Boston, seeing that one of the rumsellers, like most of the
other shopkeepers of Boston, had hung out the sign, "Wel-
come, Endeavorers!" took him at his word, went into the sa-
loon, and held a prayer-meeting before the bar. He could
hardly do otherwise than allow them to have their little meet-
ing there, when he had invited them so cordially.

Many after-effects of the conventions could be
Meetings, noted if Space allowed. Echo meetings are held all
over the country, and indeed all over the world, af-
ter a world's convention. Wherever it may be held, India
hears of it, and China, and Alaska ; and before long echo meet-
ings are held in the islands of the South Seas. On their way
from the convention at Berlin, for instance, two Spanish En-
deavorers* in going home took several weeks for their journey,
and told the story of "Berlin, 1905," in San Sebastian, Santan-
der, Bilbao, Logrono, Pradejon, Pamplona, Saragossa, and
Valencia. In all these towns the delegates received a most
hearty welcome, and in some places members of the young peo-
ple's and Junior societies came to the railway station to receive
them and to express their joy and good will. The meetings

* Don Carlos Araujo, and Don Vincente Mateu, reported in European Chris-
tian Endeavour.

Cui Bono? 197

were enthusiastic, and the Endeavorers listened with keen in-
terest to the story of the Berlin convention.

Many are the delightful acquaintances made on these
convention journeys, as can well be imagined. Indeed, Mr.
W. T. Stead once declared that the chief value of the Chris-
tian Endeavor convention is that it brings so many strong
young men and fair young women together, giving them a
chance to get acquainted, and resulting in so many congenial
and happy marriages. However this may be, it is very cer-
tain that "local unions" of this sort are not uncommon, and
the writer has never known one that turned out badly.

Reunions of those who are thus thrown together on the
steamer or railroad train are often held for years after the
journey is over, and around the festive board, as the anniver-
sary returns, year after year the delegates who thus came to
know each other gather to compare notes and to enjoy the
reminiscences of past delights.

At the time of the World's Convention in 1900,
uitonians. on account of the burning of the steamers on the
very day before they were to sail, a large company
of Boston Endeavorers chartered at the last moment the large
new freight-steamer Ultonia, which was hastily fitted up for
their accommodation. But the delay in sailing and the slow-
ness of the steamer prevented these hundreds from reaching
London before the last benediction had been said, and most of
the other delegates had scattered to the ends of the earth.
However, the Uitonians, as they call themselves, do not con-
sider their time or money wasted. They had a ten days' con-
vention of their own, and one three thousand miles long; for it
extended across the Atlantic, and year after year they have met
for an annual banquet to recount the joys that they ex-
perienced in 1900 and to pledge one another anew their
friendship and their fellowship in service. Occasionally,
when they can so arrange, the captain of the Ultonia meets

198 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

with them; for he declares that there was never so royal a
ship's company as that which sailed with him to Liverpool
in the summer of 1900.

Dr. Conant, the eminent Baptist minister and editor of
The Examiner, has thus summed up in a few words the bene-
fit of these great conventions in his summary of Baltimore,
1905, for The Examiner.

"And now what beneficial result may be expected from
this great gathering? Much every way. The fires of en-
thusiasm for Christian work were kindled anew. The thou-
sands who were there will go home to their little circles
carrying a fresh inspiration for missions at home and abroad,
a new loyalty to the home church, a spirit of deeper conse-
cration to the service of the Master. Christian Endeavor
stands for loyalty to Christ, loyalty to the local church, loy-
alty to world-wide missions; and the great host represented
at Baltimore will be re-invigorated by the reports of all that
was seen and heard in this great gathering of 1905. A
mighty influence for good cannot fail to be exerted by these
meetings among the four millions of Christian Endeavorers
representing nearly every body of Christian believers through-
out the world."

CHAPTER XV.
YOUNG MEN AND MAIDENS.

THE GREAT PART PLAYED BY STALWART YOUNG MEN
AND THE NO LESS IMPORTANT SHARE OF FAIR YOUNG
WOMEN IN THE SOCIETY AND ITS WORK, IS THE IN-
TERESTING THEME OF THE FOLLOWING PAGES.

" I feel that this movement amongst j'oung people is full of
promise for the future. So many lives consecrated to Christ at
an early age must have a great effect in Christianizing the
world, and thus prepare for the second coming of our Lord."

The Marquis of Northampton.

" The most precious thing to any church is a throb of life,
a spark of fire, a grain of poetry, a gleam of the dawn. Vision,
enthusiasm, courage, power, these are the greatest things that
can come into any church, and they come with the young."

Rev. W. L. JVatkinson, England.

HE Christian Endeavor Society does not indorse
the extravagant boast that is sometimes made for
it by enthusiastic friends that it has discovered
the young people ; but it is not perhaps too much
to say that it has sometimes discovered young
people to themselves, and sometimes to the church with which
they are connected, revealing their possibilities, showing them
the deepest things of their own natures, and indicating to
themselves and others capacities for service and devotion
which no one suspected.

Our subject has led us to consider the means used by
Providence, often without any human foresight or planning,
for the rapid development and spread of the Society in its
early years. These are the fundamental principles on which

199

200

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

it rests, simple, comprehensible, adaptable to all; the printing-
press ; and the convention, which have had their great share in
this development. But the seed must have good soil, or it will
not germinate; and this soil, as has before been said, is none
other than the warm and fruitful heart of youth. It may be
said, indeed, that young men and women are not only the ma-
terial with which Christian Endeavor has to work, but that
they have been the chief means of its establishment and de-
velopment; and a chapter concerning them and their work in
and for the Society seems appropriate at this point.

Abstract principles, however simple and easy of applica-
tion, are, after all, but cold and lifeless things. Printer's ink
means only so many black marks on white paper, and is but
slightly effective without a living personality. But when
large-hearted, whole-souled, vivacious youth take up a move-
ment; when they transmute its principles by some living al-
chemy into action ; when they crowd the convention halls with
their eager presence, and make the roof ring with their ap-
plause for the right and their songs of Christian victory, then
a movement has a most irresistible means of propagation; for
it has young life in it, and young life is irresistible.

The Society of Christian Endeavor has been
Men"^ notable from its earliest days for the number of

Sodef young men it has enrolled. It has been a standing

refutation of the pessimistic wail that the young
men are deserting the church and that the gospel is losing its
power over them.

"The first society in Williston Church had within its
ranks quite a number of young men and big boys who were
just developing into manhood. The first and second presi-
dents of the first society were not children by any means, but
bearded men, young, to be sure, in years and young in heart,
but men who were already fighting life's battles and winning
life's bread. From that day to this the Society has attracted

Young Men and Maidens.

201

Endeavorers of Many Lands.

J. E. Randall. Jamaica. A Nestorian l%^%Js.IeTJyi,

fcharles Briquet, Geneva. Endeavorer Secretary for Italy

An Endeavorer of Vodena ^'Te^.^r Rev Henr MeArd'Aubiene,

m the costume of the city. Persia. President French C. E. Union.

202 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

an increasing number of these stalwarts, and it has been a
source of pleasure and just pride to all interested in the move-
ment to be able to point to the splendid specimens of young
manhood, which in almost every city and country of the Unit-
ed States are looked up to as the local leaders of these youth-
ful hosts."*

The paragraph just quoted was written more than ten
years ago, but its statements may be made to-day with greater
emphasis and truth than then. Young men have been com-
ing increasingly to Christian Endeavor standards. The con-
ventions have been conspicuous from the beginning for the
number of young men who attend them. Many times the
young men in a great convention audience have been asked
to arise, and though sometimes, when seated, they seem to
be outnumbered by their sisters, perhaps only overshadowed
by the picture hats, when they rise to their feet, it seems as if
fully half the convention were standing.

In this connection I will quote another paragraph from
the earlier history, because with these doubled years of ex-
perience in conventions and union gatherings and local so-
cieties from one end of America to the other, and in almost
every foreign land, the writer can repeat with renewed empha-
sis what he then said:

"Some years ago a distinguished clergyman of the Church
of England, who desired to know more about the Christian
Endeavor movement, after listening patiently to an explana-
tion of the principles and plans and methods of the Society,
looked up into my face, and said with a somewhat super-
cilious rising inflection, which perhaps was simply his English
way of expressing dissent from the principles I had been ad-
vocating, T suppose that your society raises up no end of
prigs, doesn't it?'

♦"World-Wide Endeavor."

Young Men and Maidens. 203

The "I was glad to be able to say to him promptly

Conspicuous and unreservedly:

Absence •'

of, " 'It certainly does not develop the prig or the

religious freak. I have been privileged to meet
many of the young people who are connected with
this movement in almost every large city in America. I can
call to mind young men in Boston and Chicago, in New
York and San Francisco, in Baltimore and Denver, in New
Orleans and Omaha, in Philadelphia, in Portland, Me., and
Porland, Or.; and I cannot recall among them all a single
prig, a single smug and self-conceited 'cad,' as you would
call him in England; but they are strong, manly, devout,
wide-awake young men; young men who are influential in
public afifairs, in state and church alike, and will be more so;
young men whom you would not be ashamed to own as your
brothers.' '!

From the earliest days to the present it has been a source
of delight, and often of surprise, to see the unselfish expendi-
ture of time and money which these young leaders have given
to the cause. With no emolument or hope of personal pre-
ferment, with little honor accruing to them, except the honor
of doing a hard and self-sacrificing task, thousands and thou-
sands of young men in every part of the world have been will-
ing to serve as presidents or secretaries of societies or unions,
or as chairmen of laborious committees. There come before
me, as I write, the names and faces of hundreds of these
young men, among the brightest and best in their community
and their generation,who, while earning their own living in
office or store, or in some exacting profession, have taken time
out of business or professional hours, and devoted it ungrudg-
ingly to the service of their Master through the Christian En-
deavor Society, because in this way it seemed to them to count
the most for His cause.

One of the ways in which the favor of Providence seems

204 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

to have been bestowed most signally on the Society is in the
character of the young men who have been called to places
of especial responsibility in connection with the United So-
ciety and its work. To them have been due its prosperity
and its influence. Their whole-hearted consecration to the
work, their business sagacity, their shrewd common sense and
genuine intellectual ability, have made the Society the power
that it is, and have made its influence felt to the ends of the
earth. It is not invidious, I think, to mention the names of
William Shaw and John Willis Baer and Amos R.
vvorkers Wells and Von Ogden Vogt and George B. Grafif
Among ^^^ Jq^j^ P Cowan and Arthur W. Kelly and
Young George W. Coleman and Charles S. Brown and

Men.

John R. Clements, who in the United Society or on
The Christian Endeavor World, by their business
acumen or literary or musical ability, often throughout a long
series of years have given themselves heart and soul to the
advancement of the cause of Christ among the youth of the
world.

When I think of other lands, names equally prominent
rise to my mind; for what would the Christian Endeavor
cause be in Germany without Frederick Blecher, or in Swit-
zerland without Charles Briquet, or in Finland without Emil
Saxback, or in Hungary without Professor Szabo, or in Spain
without William H. Gulick, or in Europe generally without
Horace Dutton and Stanley P. Edwards, or in Great Britain
without Knight Chaplin and John Pollock and J. D. La-
mont, or in Australia without J. B. Spencer and F. E. Harry
and George Walton; or in South Africa without Polhemus
Lyon and— but I cannot go on with the enumeration.

I find it difficult to restrain my pen when it comes to
the record of such names. There would be literally no stop-
ping, were justice done to all, without making the book a mere
catalogue and directory of Christian Endeavor. These names

Young Men and Maidens.

205

2o6 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

are not always the most conspicuous before the world in the
work of Christian Endeavor; but they are in every case the
names of men of young hearts, though sometimes of gray
beards, of men who are thoroughly typical and representative
of the stalwart and unselfish character of hundreds of thou-
sands of others, who during the five and twenty years past have
been enlisted in the Christian Endeavor movement.

But the glory of the Society is that it is not merely a young
men's society. Were it so, it would be robbed of fully half its
power. It is a young people's society. Young men's or-
ganizations have a vastly important work to do, but it is not
the work of the Christian Endeavor movement; for its mis-
sion in part is to bring the sexes together in whole-
Each some activity, in generous helpfulness, each sup-
|yp jg^g^jgplementing the other's work, and together doing
the what neither could alone accomplish.

other.

Great as has been the number of young men
in the Society, there have doubtless been enrolled
considerably more young women. This could hardly be
otherwise, since in the majority of churches the women out-
number the men two to one; and what shall I say concerning
the whole-hearted devotion which the young women have con-
tributed to the strength as well as the grace and beauty of the
movement? It used to be said by Miss Willard that it was
the duty of women to be strong as well as attractive, and of
men to be attractive as well as strong. An organization that
brings the sexes together in natural intercourse, that places
them upon the same committees, gives them equal responsi-
bility for the same meetings, allows them equally to lead and
to be led, and gives them official positions regardless of sex,
cannot but promote and develop in each the strength and
beauty which only when combined make the perfect man or
woman.

These natural and friendly relations also make greatly for

Young Men and Maidens. 207

purity and true manliness and womanliness. It is an evil
thing often for a boy to be brought up among boys only, or a
girl among girls only. In the ideal family there should be
both brothers and sisters. Each helps the other to strengthen
the weak spots or rub off the rough corners of character. In
the church family it is quite as important that the boys and
girls should be brought together without: artificial restraints,
but actuated by one supreme purpose to do right and serve
God.

It must not be supposed that this victory for modern and
Occidental ideas regarding the sexes has been won all at once.
In fact, in some countries, or perhaps it would be more fair
to say in some portions of some countries, it is still impossible
for the young men and young women to meet together in the
normal and simple relations which Christian Endeavor fos-
ters. But even in Oriental lands, where the binding force of
custom is most relentless, old ideas are giving way, and it is
beginning to be seen that naturalness, effectiveness, and purity
are all fostered by thus bringing together the sexes in their
religious work.

At a recent convention In Persia, where probably the tra-
ditions in regard to the separation of the sexes have been most
inveterate, one of the old white-haired preachers arose in the
convention and exclaimed, in amazement at the marvellous
changes that have been wrought since his youth: "Then no
woman would have thought of participating; the young men
were silent unless called upon by their leaders; but now both
'young men and maidens, old men and children, praise the
name of Jehovah,' and do active and efficient service in the
Christian Endeavor Society."

Still, it is not possible fully to accomplish this in every
land, and some excellent Endeavor societies are composed en-
tirely of young men, and others entirely of young women in
the same mission station; but occasional union meetings are

208

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

held, and in other ways they are brought together under the
supervision of the missionary, so that the Christian Endeavor
idea is carried out even by these single-sex societies.
Many were the objections that were levelled at
the Society in its early days because of the loosening
of women's tongues in the prayer-meeting, and St.
Paul's denunciation of women who presume to "teach,"

St. Paul
and the
Christian
Endeavor
Society.

M ^H^^^BW%^ ^ffl^f J ^M

Some Presidents of Christian Endeavor Societies in Persia.

and do not ask their husbands at home when they
wish for information, was often hurled at the Christian En-
deavor movement, which it was said would make women for-
ward and mannish, and brush off the bloom of modesty and
reserve.

No such dire results, however, have followed, for the
most active of the young women are also the most modest and
teachable ; for are they not all humble learners in the school
of Christ? Even St. Paul is now almost never quoted against
the Christian Endeavor movement, for it has come to be seen
very generally that Paul was misinterpreted when it was sup-
posed that he was aiming his denunciations at the modern

Young Men and Maidens. 209

Christian Endeavor meetings, and that it is quite as modest
and womanly a thing for a young lady to offer a sentence of
prayer, or to repeat a verse of Scripture, or to give a sincere
word of testimony, as for her to teach in the Sunday-school or
public school, to sing in the choir or concert, or to occupy any
one of the thousand places which the Christian women of the
most advanced civilization have opened to her.

No one has done more to place the position of women In
the Christian Endeavor prayer-meeting in the right light than

Dr. Wayland Hoyt,who at one of the early conven-
New tions gave an address on "The New Prayer-Meet-

Meettne i'^S'" ^^^ words havc been quoted elsewhere, but

they are worth repeating. Speaking of that early
prayer-meeting recorded in the second chapter of Acts, he
says:

"That old typical New Testament prayer-meeting was
a prayer-meeting which gave holy speech to women.

"Look there! What is that, that strong, celestial, waver-
ing, gleaming tongue of flame? Behold it! It is on the
head of Peter! Yes, it is on the head of James! Yes, it is
on the head of Matthew! Yes, it is on the head of the son
of Alphaeus! Yes, it is on the head of Mary! Yes, it is on
the head of Salome! Yes, it is on the head of Mary Magda-
lene! Yes! Yes!

"In all that company there is not a single head unmitred
with the celestial fame, as much on women's heads as on the
heads of men. In the prayer-meeting women prayed for the
gift, or they would not have received the gift; and, when the
gift came, it came to woman just as much as to man ; for the
shining, wavering flame was on the heads of all of them.

"Paul says, 'Let the women keep silence in the churches.'
Yes, Paul does say that; and, if I believed that Paul meant
what is understood by many as the common interpretation of
his meaning, I would submit to the apostle. I believe in im-
plicit and accurate submission to inspired authority; but be-
cause I am sure that the usual interpretation of that Scripture

2IO Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

has been a huge misconception and blunder I declare that the
new prayer-meeting of Christian Endeavor is in close accord
with the old typical prayer-meeting of the New Testament,
because it gives to women holy speech ; for do you know what
the meaning of the words 'keep silence' is?

"Paul says, 'Do not let the women lall, lall, lall.' Don't
you see what he means? That is the Greek word lalein,
which means to chatter, make a disturbance, a contention.

"Paul says, 'Never let a woman do that' The men had
better take that to themselves as well. But Paul does dis-
tinctly say, 'When a woman prayeth or prophesieth, let her
do it with her head covered;' that is, according to the custom
of the times, 'in decent fashion.'

"Why, a woman may pray in the church. Why, proph-
esying is simply forthsaying your faith in Jesus and your
love for Him, and exhorting others to come to Him; and
Paul distinctly allows that women find tongue for praying
and for prophesying in the meetings of the church.

"Therefore I declare that the new prayer-meeting of
Christian Endeavor is in exact accord with the old typical
prayer-meeting of the New Testament, because it does give
to women, and insists on giving to women, holy speech.
These miserable padlocks on the gracious lips of women
ought to be unlocked, and broken ofif, and flung away for-
ever."

But, while all this is true, and while Christian Endeavor,
along with other movements of the day, has done something
to unlock the chains that bound the tongues and the activities
of women, it is also true that it has never unsexed either sex,
or sought to make them alike in all their activities.
D _ There are some things that women will al-

Koom o

for All ways do better than men, and some forms of Chris-
Every tiau work in which men will always excel. There

is room for them all in the infinite variety of Chris-
tian Endeavor service. At the convention rallies
special meetings are often held for men and for women, when
truths that each distinctively need to hear are forced home.

Young Men and Maidens. 211

But it yet remains true that in the great majority of the meet-
ings and in far the largest part of the service the men and the
women together can do the best work. This was never put in
better form than by America's most-gifted and best-loved
woman, Frances E. Willard, who at the Cleveland Christian
Endeavor convention of 1894 spoke the eloquent words with
which this chapter shall be concluded.

"There is no competition between men and women — or
there ought not to be. Whoever speaks of competition has
breathed out a curse upon the race; whoever speaks of co-
operation has breathed out a blessing. If one eye should say
to the other eye, 'Let me do your seeing;' if one ear should
say to the other ear, 'You can just shut up shop; I will look
after your hearing;' if one foot should say to the other foot,
'I will outdo you in a walking-match,' then might man say
to woman, or woman to man, 'We will see which one will
get ahead.' But God was before us in the matter; and in
His blessed gospel — one of whose splendid object-lessons, one
of whose brightest blossoming flowers, is this convention —
He has taught us that 'there is neither male nor female in
Christ Jesus.'

"The old English law said, 'Husband and wife are one,
and that one is the husband.' The modern unwise agitator
says, 'Husband and wife are one, and that one is the wife.'
Christian Endeavor, and the Woman's Christian Temper-
ance Union, and the church of Christ, whose children we are,
say, 'Husband and wife are one, and that one is — husband
and wife.' And this is said because 'it is not good for man
to be alone.' I believe the welcome of the power and pres-
ence of women will be the touchstone of the survival of the
fittest in the age that is soon to dawn. I believe that the in-
stitution, the custom, the party, that cannot bear the clear day-
light of a good woman's presence deserves to die and will
die."

CHAPTER XVI.

THE JUNIOR ARMY.

HEREIN IS TOLD THE STORY OF THE FIRST JUNIOR SO-
CIETY AND THE PROGRESS OF THE JUNIOR MOVEMENT,
TOGETHER WITH THE FUNDAMENTAL IDEAS THAT
UNDERLIE IT.

" A boy is valuable now because he is a boy, in addition to
the possibilities of manhood in the da3^s to come. Boys as boys,
and girls as girls, are not only making a place for themselves,
but are given their place in Christian Endeavor. The boys and
girls of to-day, the Juniors, are the flower of Christian En-
deavor and the trustees of the future of the movement."

John Willis Baer.

IN the afternoon of March 27, 1884, at the close of
school hours a certain brick building in a certain
Western town poured its usual noisy crowd of
^^ happy, careless children into the streets. And
yet not quite its usual crowd, for a few had re-
mained behind, and with serious faces were gathering at that
moment in one of the upper rooms with their teacher and the
pastor and the Sunday-school superintendent of the church to
which all but one of them belonged. There were eleven
children present, and their ages ranged approximately from
ten to fourteen. After preliminary devotions the pastor ex-
plained to them why they had been asked to remain, and ended
by reading the constitution of an organization which he pro-
posed to form. ... It was indeed hardly expected that
it would seem best to organize at all that day, but the children
seemed fully ready for it. They listened with the most
thoughtful attention to the explanations given, and seemed to

212

The Junior Army.

213

214 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

be deeply impressed with the responsibility of the step they
were taking. But, when the vote was taken, and, for greater
freedom of expression taken by ballot, every vote but one
was for immediate organization, and, when the pledge was

Some Junior Endeavorers of Harpoot, Turkey.

passed from hand to hand, every name but one was promptly
subscribed."

This is the story of the formation of the first
Junior society as given by the pastor, the Rev. J.
W. Cowan,* and it is the very same story in all
essential particulars of humble, inconspicuous hu-
man effort directed by the Spirit of God which had been en-
acted some three years before in Portland, Me., when the first
Endeavor society was formed.

* In 1884 pastor of the church in Tabor, Iowa.

The
First
Junior
Society.

Young Men and Maidens. 215

The writer has some hesitation in declaring without
qualification that this was absolutely the first Junior society
of Christian Endeavor, since he has been seriously taken to
task more than once for such an assertion by other claimants
for this honor. It is undoubtedly true that several Junior
societies were formed about the same time, one of them by
Mrs. Slocum, a pastor's wife in the same State of Iowa, and
one in Berkeley, Cal., by the Rev. Charles Savage. Indeed,
the Junior idea was wrapped up in the very germ of Chris-
tian Endeavor, and the first society might have been called a
Junior society with almost as much propriety as a Young Peo-
ple's society, for it had within its membership many boys and
girls, who were at once set at work as vigorously and effi-
ciently as their elders:

Indeed, if the whole truth should be told, it should be
said that the first Junior society preceded the first Young Peo-
ple's society, and that its originator was the good lady to whom
I, at least, owe more for Christian Endeavor suggestions and
encouragement than to any other one. For before the second
day of February, 1881, there had been formed in Williston
Church a "Mizpah Circle" of boys and girls, whose chief ob-
ject, to be sure, was to work for missions, but who did much
besides for their own church as a handsome stained-glass win-
dow in the Williston Church testifies to this day. These same
^. ^ . . boys and girls had also been brought together in a

The Origin , , fe &

of the pastor s class with a pledge which reads m the same

pVedge. "^^y i" which the pledge of almost every Junior
society begins to-day.

"Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I prom-
ise Him that I will strive to do whatever He would like to
have me do, that I will pray and read the Bible every day,
and that, just so far as I know how, I will endeavor to lead
a Christian life."

In these classes children who had already, as they hoped,
given their hearts to God, were fitted for church-member-

2i6 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

ship ; and, when the first Endeavor society was formed, they
were all ready, by reason of this instruction in the pastor's
class and practical training in th^ Mizpah Circle, to enter
actively upon their distinctive duties as Christian En-
deavorers.

At that time it was felt that they could be trained with
equal effectiveness in the same society with their older brothers
and sisters. But, as that society and others grew larger, it
was found that the boys and girls were overshadowed by the
more experienced workers, and that in the general society they
did not get the training that they should receive.

Thus the credit for the formation of the first distinctively
Junior society that survived the perils of infancy, to the best
of my knowledge and belief, falls to the modest Iowa pastor
whose simple story I have already quoted, and who has never
claimed any special honor for himself.

The spread of the Junior Society has been scarcely less
remarkable than that of the Young People's Society, and the
reason is the very same. It had life in it. Many an organiza-
tion for children has been started under apparently more fa-
vorable auspices. Other features of the Christian Endeavor
movement itself have been proposed with much more appar-
ent promise of success, but they have failed, because in some
way they did not meet the need of the times, because they had
not that marvellous something, often indefinable, which bi-
ologists would call, perhaps, adaptation to their environment.
They were not quite fitted to the life of the day.

About the same time a titled Christian lady of lofty lin-
eage, whose name ranks with the highest, started an organiza-
tion on somewhat similar lines. It had apparently much
more chance of success than that of the quiet Iowa pastor, for
her name and that of her gifted and noble husband were be-
hind the movement, and she had the wealth and opportunity
to travel in many lands to tell of the society. But for some

The Junior Army.

217

reason, though a very admirable children's organization it
has never accomplished what the Iowa idea has done; and
some of the societies she has formed have been merged into
the Junior Endeavor movement.

There is only one way to account for the twenty thousand

Chinese Christian Endeavor Juniors, Foochow, China.

times multiplication of that first Junior society. God had a
use for it, and it was adapted to the needs of the children.

Before we leave the society of Tabor it is interesting to
record that Raymond C. Brooks, the first signer of this first
The Junior society, and the son of the president of Tabor

f"'*"^.* College, graduated with honor from Yale Divinity

Junior & ? fc)

Endeavors. School, and has become an honored pastor on the
Pacific coast, while all the living members of that first little

2i8 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

band of ten, when last heard from, were doing honest, faithful
Christian work.

At the Twelfth International Convention, Mr. Brooks,
then a theological student, responded to the address of wel-
come at the Junior rally. His words were appropriate, and
were heard with great interest, especially as he predicted in
the following sentences what has become more and more true
of the Junior Society from that day to this.

"Within the Junior Society to-day are the future presi-
dents and statesmen, the earnest preachers of the gospel mes-

Some Spanish Christian Endeavor Juniors.

sage, the consecrated missionaries of the cross, and those
who shall make the homes that shall determine in great
measure the character of the next generation.

"Within this company you have welcomed to-day are

The Junior Army 219

those who represent in good measure the best of the manhood
and womanhood of the next generation. Some will follow
the cross of Christ into the utmost parts of the earth, and will
live themselves the Christlike life before those who have not
heard of Christ. Many more, it may be, will tell the story
of Jesus, the Saviour of men, once again to those who are
perishing in our own land. But perhaps the greatest com-
pany of us, unnoticed by the world, in the humblest stations
to which God may call us, will live that life of earnest con-
secration and true Christian Endeavor which alone can pre-
pare us for the greater privilege, the larger responsibilities,
which God will call us to by and by.

"Let that inspired and inspiring faith in God, and that
consecrated courage which, we have learned in this conven-
tion, is so characteristic of the young life never forsake us."

^. But little need be said in this connection about

1 he

Progress the progress of the Junior movement. It has kept
Junior pace with the growth of the older society, and in

Movement. ^^^^ places, indeed, has outstripped it. Junior
contingents are found to-day in almost every country where
there are older Endeavorers. Indeed, the Junior society often
paves the way for the young people's organization; and, as
the Juniors grow older, they naturally graduate into the young
people's society, and make the very best Christian Endeavor-
ers. A modern church is scarcely felt to be well equipped
to-day that has not a Junior society, or something correspond-
ing to it, for the training of the boys and girls.

At the convention in Baltimore, in 1905, an Interna-
tional Junior and Intermediate Union was formed, with the
Rev. George F. Kenngott, of Lowell, Mass., for president, and
Miss Kate H. Haus, of St. Louis, another eminent Junior
worker, for secretary. This Union will, doubtless, largely
promote the growth and discipline of the Junior army. The
Mothers' Societies may be made a great and increasing power
for good in connection with the Junior Societies. The writer

220 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

hopes to live to see this branch of the society greatly enlarged,
and the Junior movement vastly strengthened thereby.

The Junior rallies at the great conventions in England and
America and Australia are often the most intensely interest-
ing of all the meetings, and attract the largest throngs; for the
Junior movement has not only won the children, but has been
equally efifective in interesting the parents and in training a
great host of superintendents, tens of thousands of them, who
in all parts of the world are learning Christian truth and
developing Christian character in that best of all schools, the
teacher's school. For there is no more efficient, consecrated,
and resourceful body of Christian Endeavorers, take them all
in all, than the Junior superintendents. What the Juniors
have found to do and actually are doing will be told in later
chapters.

The fundamental idea to be borne In mind in a
Training= Junior socicty is that it is a training-school. The
fdea^' most common mistake is that of making it merely

a teaching-school. It is not a second primary Sun-
day-school class. Most churches have one. There is no need
of another. The primary Sunday-school is doing its work
for the most part effectively and well. But there is need in
all our churches of another school, where children shall learn
to work by working. This, after all, is the fundamental truth
of Christian Endeavor, whether Junior or Senior. The
painter can learn to paint a picture only by taking brush and
colors and palette in hand, and making, at first, perhaps, un-
sightly daubs. He can never be an artist merely by reading
books of art, or by studying its technique, unless he puts brush
to canvas. The carpenter cannot become skilful by reading
the best treatises on architecture or house-building. He must
take into his own hands the hammer and nails, the chisel and
plane; and, though he may be awkward and blundering in his
first attempts, there is absolutely no other way of learning his

The Junior Army.

221

trade. He must have instruction, to be sure; but instruction
without practice is even less effective than practice without
instruction.

So it is in religious work. The law is as inevitable in
the church as in the machine-shop, in the prayer-meeting and
missionary society as in the artist's studio. The only way to
learn to work is to go to work. The Rev. J. F. Cowan, D.D.,
in an admirable address at the Montreal Christian Endeavor

Bridge Built by Juniors at Melbourne Convention, 1904.

convention well applied this thought to Junior Endeavor soci-
eties when in the course of his address on the subject he said:

''Were you not asking the professor of music the other
day at what age he would prefer to begin with his pupil on
the piano? And what did he say? At eighteen or twenty-
five? By no means. He said, Tf my pupil is to be really a
fine pianist, I must begin with him while he is yet a child —
about as soon, in fact, as he is able to sit on a piano-stool.'
And are the spiritual muscles and tendons so much less sus-
ceptible than the physical, and so much less swiftly develop-
ing into form and permanency that they can be neglected

222 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

through all the plastic years of childhood, and no priceless
advantage be lost? Before the child sings he thinks. Long
before he begins to ask about chords and melodies he begins
to question about God. The religious nature is often ripe
while as yet the body is in all the greenness and callowness
of unformed youth. Train the muscles later on if you will.
But, if you would train the soul, you must take it at the start.
And, since the grand aim of Christian Endeavor is to train
Christian workers, it seems to me that the grand mission ot
Christian Endeavor is to the children."*

^j^^^ Who can estimate the blessings that have come

They to children from an early acquaintance with Christ,

Saved and an early effort to serve Him? It is not always

'^*""* what the boys and girls accomplish, but also the ex-

periences of sin and sorrow from which they are saved, that
counts. This was well put by a convention speakert who said :

"An old sailor once told me that he never knew a boy
to get washed overboard at sea. A heavy man might, for a
man weighs so much that, if he catches hold of a rope, he
cannot sustain his own weight as a boy can. A boy is light
and wiry, and tenacious if he gets hold. Simply because he
is a boy he can keep hold. He has less to sustain. So it is
with the boy who by faith lays hold on Jesus; he has not the
weight of so many habits and thoughts to drag him down.
This is the work we want to do among the Juniors. There
is a redemptive work, but we emphasize to-day the preventive
work. There is a work of reformation, but formation is bet-
ter. We want every little Junior to some day thank God,
like David, for what he has been kept f rom."t

This same speaker in the same address admirably ex-
pressed the Junior idea when he said:

"If I were asked to compress the most significant thing
I know about Junior societies into a word, it would be this:

* From the official report of the Twelfth International Christian Endeavor
Convention.

t Rev. James L. Hill, D.D., at the Thirteenth International Convention.

The Junior Army.

223

Let the Juniors do the work in their own society. Do not
lecture them. Let the organization be an autonomy. Let
the chairman read reports which their mothers can help them
write. Let them feel a personal responsibility, like the little
girl who came to the leader after the meeting and said, 'Two
girls got my chance, and I almost didn't say my verse.' Cul-
tivate such a spirit of esprit de corps that all will feel it a
privilege to belong to such a society.*

Representing the Growth of the Christian Endeavor Movement in China.

As we see the Junior army in every land
marching with bright banners and brighter faces;
as we see them in their conventions, greeted with
the applause of ten thousand spectators, to whose
eyes their promise of future victory brings tears
of joy; above all, as. we think of them in their score of thou-

The

Juniors

the

Hope

of the

Future.

* Rev. James L. Hill, D.D., at the Thirteenth International Convention.

224 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

sand of little societies in every land beneath the sun, quietly,
unostentatiously, ploddingly, doing their little best, learning
to pray, to work, to give ; learning to be obedient and reverent,
and gentle and kind, we can echo the earnest words that were
spoken at a Scotch convention by one of the earliest friends*
of the Junior movement when she said:

*'An old Roman warrior dreamed that he saw an army
of veterans, who shouted as they marched past, 'We have
been brave!' Behind them came the present strong stalwarts,
who were fighting the battles of Rome, and they shouted,
*We are brave!' Then came troops of young men, who said,
'We will be brave!' The old warrior awoke from his dream,
exclaiming, 'There's hope for Rome yet!' And, as we see
the grand army of Junior Endeavorers learning lessons of
truth and purity, growing familiar with their Bibles, learn-
ing to delight in goodness for its own sake, putting their
brightness and hopefulness into loving deeds and kindly
words, we, too, can say in a far truer and higher sense,
'There's hope for the world yet;' and the far-reaching in-
fluence of the young members of more than thirteen thou-
sandt Junior societies scattered over the world promises great
things for the future of our great human family. It prom-
ises to elevate and purify our political, social, and commer-
cial life, our industrial and professional life, and, beyond
and above all, to stir up and brighten our church life."

* Mrs. A. W. Potts, of Crewe (whose husband formed the first British so-
ciety), speaking at the British National Convention, Glasgow, 1898.
t This number, at this writing, is nearly doubled.

CHAPTER XVII.

THE SOCIETY AND THE PSYCHOLOGIST.

THE AGREEMENT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR WITH THE LATEST WORD OF
THE PSYCHOLOGIST IS HEREIN SET FORTH, AND SOME
MISAPPREHENSIONS ARE CORRECTED.

" The Christian Endeavor is a good object-lesson as to the
value of giving adolescents untrammelled opportunity to serve
God and perform religious duty. The Christian Endeavor
movement is a great witness to the fact that religion without
particular denominational creeds meets the needs of young peo-
ple. If the religious emotions are thus cultivated until estab-
lished, the particular forms will adjust themselves with little
harm to the individual." Prof. E. G. Lancaster, Ph.D.,

in " The Religious Tendency of Adolescents to Dogma."

7URING the last quarter of a century attention has
been turned to the study of the child mind as
never before. It has been sounded with all sorts
of philosophic plummets, to discover its hidden
depths. Ponderous tomes and many of them
have been written on the subject, some of them profoundly
suggestive and of great value. Especially have the phe-
nomena of adolescence been studied until it has seemed to many
that undue emphasis has been put upon the merely physical
side. A reaction from this over-emphasis is seen in some
quarters, but it is undoubtedly true that great benefits have
come from the clear recognition, on the psychological side, of
the immense importance of this period of life.

One of the most eminent of the students of the child mind
says :

15 225

226 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

"During the next three or four years (after the age of
twelve) there is to come a transformation of the mental as
well as of the physical organism, more profound than any
other between birth and death. New kinds of sensations and
emotions, new modes of thought, new attitudes of will, new
problems of duty, new kinds of temptation, new mysteries of
religion, all these come in a flood over the young adolescent.
. . . If there be a heavenly Father who yearns for fellow-
ship with His children, what more effective method could
there be of satisfying that yearning than to attach to adoles-
cence an appetite for the Infinite, the infinitely true, beauti-
ful, and good? As a matter of fact such an appetite for the
Infinite is just the most characteristic part of mental adoles-
cence." *

The truth of this statement is amply borne out in the bi-
ography of Christian men who relate the experience of their
conversion or their earliest interest in religious things.

"I have during the last year," once wrote the Rev. Charles
H. Spurgeon, "received forty or fifty children into church-
membership ; among those I have had at any time to exclude
from the church, out of a church of 2,700 members I have
never had to exclude a single one who was received while yet
a child."

On two separate occasions I have made a canvass of some
of the best-known Christian men of America, ministers and
laymen, in order to determine how many of them dated their
religious experience in their early years, and also
Age of to find their opinion in regard to the expediency of
' ' * church-membership for the young. The questions

asked were : ( i ) "At what age did you become a Christian?"
(2) "At what age did you make a public confession of
Christ?" (3) "Does your personal opinion incline you to the
belief that it is well for children about the age of twelve years
to make a public confession of Christ by uniting with His
church?"

* Coe, " The Spiritual Life."

The Junior Army.

227

Such men as the late Dr. John Hall, Dr. Abbott E. Kit- \
tredge, ex-President Warren of Boston University, President
Angell of Michigan University, Dr. A. J. Gordon, Dr. Wash-
ington Gladden, the Hon. S. B. Capen, and others of like
standing and the greatest usefulness in the Christian church,
responded. Almost without exception they replied that they
became Christians very early in life; most of them joined the
church before they were seventeen years of age; and all em-
phatically advised the admission of children to the church
at the age of twelve, or even earlier, if they gave evidence of
being truly Christ's disciples. "There are risks attending this
early membership," wrote Dr. Gladden, "but the risks of per-
mitting children to go away from the church are far greater."*

President C. F. Thwing, of Western Reserve University,
once addressed a letter, similar to the one I have referred to,
to a picked company of conspicuously useful Christian men.
They were the corporate members of
the American Board of Commissioners
for Foreign Missions. Of the one
hundred and forty-nine who replied,
every one was a tower of strength in
later life in some church of Christ.
Nine-tenths of them believed that they
experienced conversion before they
were twenty, while only fourteen were
more than twenty. All but thirty had
joined the church before they were
twenty. Twenty-nine declared that
they became Christians when "very

young," or so young that they did not remember when they
were not Christians. Twenty-one others were younger than
twelve when they intelligently made the great decision, and

German Boy Who Formed
a Society in a Grammar
School.

* These testimonies and others are given at length in the author's book
entitled " Training the Church of the Future."

228 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

one hundred and five of the one hundred and forty-nine made
it before they were eighteen years of age.

These practical investigations in w^hat may be called bio-
graphical psychology were made, and this information was
gathered, before the first Endeavor society was formed, and
it was the startling truths here revealed that called for the
practical efforts in Christian nurture which later took the
name of "Christian Endeavor."

Says Dr. E. D. Starbuck: "Conversion does
starbuck's ^^^ occur with the same frequency at all periods of
striking jjfg_ jj- belongs almost exclusively to the years be-

Testimony. =• .

tween ten and twenty-five. The number of in-
stances outside that range appear few and scattered. That is,
conversion is a distinctively adolescent phenomenon. It is a
singular fact, also, that within this period the conversions do
not distribute themselves equally among the years. In the
rough we may say they begin to occur at seven or eight years,
and increase in numbers gradually to ten or eleven, and then
rapidly to sixteen ; rapidly decline to twenty, and gradually
fall away after that, and become rare at thirty. One may say
that if conversion has not occurred before twenty the chances
are small that it will ever be experienced."*

This conclusion of the psychologist has been abundantly
confirmed in many a Christian Endeavor convention, where,
for the sake of showing the possibility and importance of early
conversion and early religious training, those who were con-
verted before twelve and after twenty had been asked to rise.
In audiences of thousands only a scattering few have re-
sponded to this request. But when those converted between
twelve and twenty have been asked to indicate it, almost the
whole audience has risen to its feet.

The Christian Endeavor Society may also fairly claim
from the beginning to have put into practical operation the

* Starbuck, '' The Psychology of Religion."

The Society and the Psychologist. 229

psychologist's dictum already quoted, "No impression with-
out expression." Long before psychology was studied except
by the learned few, long before it had become a fad in certain
quarters, the Society attempted to put into practice its latest
philosophy, and recognized the vital importance of religious
activity to supplement and round out religious instruction.

"The cure for helplessness that comes with storm and
stress in the period of adolescence," says Professor Starbuck,
"is often found in inducing wholesome activity. 'Faith with-
out works is dead.' Let us call to mind the fact that storm
and stress and doubt are experienced sometime during youth
by something like seventy per cent of all the persons studied.
On the other hand, heightened activity, which is characterized
not only by interest in religious matters, but by engaging in
actual religious work, was experienced by only about twenty
per cent of all these persons. This is doubtless very much
out of proportion. Many persons have found the solution
of their difficulties by actually setting about doing things."

This is exactly what the Christian Endeavor Society seeks
to do for every one of its members. It sets them about doing
things, and thus tides them over the critical period of adoles-
cence, the years of storm and stress and doubt.

Professor Coe confirms Professor Starbuck in prescribing
the same treatment for those who are distressed by doubts and
fears.

"The youth should by all means be induced to
Religious be active in those forms of religious living that still
aCure?' appeal to him at all. . . . Religious activity
and religious comforts may abide at the same time
that the intellect is uncertain how this fits into any logical
structure. Thus it comes to pass that the greatest thing we
can do for the doubting youth is to induce him to give free
exercise to the religious instinct. Let him not say what he
does not actually believe; let him not compromise himself

* Starbuck, " The Psychology of Religion."

230 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

in any way; but it is always certain that he still believes and
feels and aspires enough to give him a place among religious
people."t

It is just this normal, healthy, necessary activity, which
the scientific psychologist recognizes as so important in the
period of adolescence, that the Young People's Society of
Christian Endeavor and the Junior Society attempt to supply.
The philosophy of its success, so far as the Society has been
successful, is that it fits the need of the young soul. The

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author may perhaps be pardoned for quoting here a few para-
graphs from an earlier work, written nearly twenty years ago,
before much was popularly said about scientific psychology,
but which shows the principles upon which the Society went
to work in its earliest days.

"The cord that draws the young soul upward toward God
is a threefold strand. He must know what Christ's will is

t Coe, " The Spiritual Life."

The Society and the Psychologist. 231

through the instruction of parents and Christian teachers; he
must publicly acknowledge that Christ's will is his will; and
then he must do that will. Instruction, confession, activity —
these three elements entering into the young life, when pre-
ceded by a complete heart-surrender, cannot fail to develop
the strong man, 'complete in Him.'

'*It is just as unreasonable to expect the child to grow
strong of muscle and supple of limb while strapped to a bed
and never allowed to rise and run about, as to expect the young
disciple to grow 'strong in the Lord' while never exercising
his spiritual faculties.

„ . "The instruction of the pulpit and Sunday-

Exercise . r r J

a school may well be likened to the food provided at

the family table. It is, very likely, abundant in
quantity and nutritious in quality, but food without exercise in
the family circle makes the sickly, dyspeptic child. Food
without exercise in the church is too apt to produce no better
results.

"Even the horses in our stables cannot long live without
exercise. Fill their cribs ever so full of the best feed, they
must yet do something to keep healthy. This is a natural law,
which is imperative in the spiritual world. There are a great
many dyspeptic Christians in all our churches. They are bil-
ious and disappointed and hopeless and useless, except as they
become by their continual growling and faultfinding a means
of grace in the form of chastisement, to the pastor and other
workers. In fact, they have all the symptoms of spiritual dys-
pepsia. Now the only remedy is spiritual activity. 'Go to
work,' said the famous English doctor to his rich, dyspeptic
patient, 'go to work. Live on sixpence a day, and earn it.^ "*

Professor G. Stanley Hall in his monumental work on
"Adolescence" speaks of the Christian Endeavor Society as
practically "the first of a new type of religious organization

* Clark, " Young People's Prayer-Meetingfs."

232 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

for both sexes." He then goes on to criticise the Society at
some length, especially the pledge. Here is one paragraph
that apparently gives the gist of his objection to the Society.

"To do such things (the duties enjoined in the
Dr. Hall's pledge) because they have been vowed is to act
Criticism. fj-Qjyj a relatively low motive. This obscures
higher motives, and robs these acts of the spontaneity that is
half their charm and all their virtue. ... As I have
observed the working of the Junior pledge, it seems some-
times a cheap and easy and almost cowardly trick to ease
the conscience of parent or religious teacher by devolving
on the child what they should do themselves by higher but
harder motives; and the smug complacency of adults at hav-
ing secured and counted these pledges as if they had thereby
discharged in any sense their duty seems a pious delusion that
veils a partial abdication of the highest functions of parent-
hood. For the young child it is giving his religious life and
nurture precociously over into his own keeping at the very
age when he most of all needs constant adult aid, and is least
able to assume responsibility for the keeping of his own
soul."*

The distinguished author seems to the writer, at least. In
these criticisms to underestimate several important considera-
tions. In the first place, probably not one-half of the members
of Christian Endeavor societies are from distinctively Chris-
tian homes, and of the other half fully one-half more of the
parents would in any event give but little attention to the re-
ligious training of the children. We must take things as we
find them, seeking to make them better, to be sure, but not
ignoring the plain facts of the case; and these facts are that,
whether there were any Christian Endeavor societies or not,
three-fourths of the children and youth who are influenced by
them to-day would receive little or no religious training at
home.

* Hall, " Adolescence."

The Society and the Psychologist. 233

This same objection has been raised against the Sunday-
school, and more than once; but where would millions of
children to-day receive instruction in the Bible, were it not
for the Sunday-schools?

Moreover, the "constant adult aid," for which President
Hall pleads at this critical period, is the very thing that is
given to the Juniors, usually in the wisest and most effective
way, by their superintendents.

The other objection, that these religious duties are per-
formed because of the pledge, "a relatively low motive,"
while the higher motives are "obscured," is contradicted by
the practical testimony of tens of thousands of Endeavorers
that the lower motive has led to the higher; that, beginning
from a sense of duty, and in part because they had promised
themselves and God to read the Bible, and to pray, and to
acknowledge Him before men, they had gone on to a larger
conception of the privilege of these duties, and to a greater
and greater delight in them. So far from the pledge "ob-
scuring" the highest motives, and rubbing "some of the bloom
oflf of these solemn exercises," these higher motives have been
revealed and these more exalted experiences reached only
through the performance of what was at first a task and a
duty.

Such testimonies have come not occasionally, or as the
result of some unusual experience, but over and over and over
again have they been given in prayer-meetings and conven-
tions, in frequent conversations and in letters sent to the au-
thor, which he cherishes as among the most delightful
expressions that have come to him during all these years in
regard to the value of the Christian Endeavor.
„, , Dr. Hall does not seem to remember that these

Pledges

All pledges are taken voluntarily, and except in rare in-

un ary. g|-^j^^.gg without any undue pressure. They are

taken because the young soul feels the need of them himself,

234 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

and because the experience of others shows that he will be
helped by them. The author of "Adolescence" also appa-
rently leaves out of consideration altogether the fact that these
promises are made not to the society or to the church, but
primarily to God. It is a contract with Jehovah as much as
the Jewish dispensation, and is more properly called a cove-
nant than a pledge. "Society and business rest upon trust and
confidence and the fulfilment of promised obligations," he
says. But these obligations are usually put in writing, for
every deed and promissory note and check is a financial pledge.
Every marriage is solemnized by a vow as serious and binding
as words can make it, and church-membership is accompanied
by a covenant which is as solemn and far more comprehensive
even than the Christian Endeavor pledge.

What Dr. Hall calls, not very graciously, "the religious-
oath craze" he applies to the "Comrades of the Quiet Hour,"
the "Tenth Legion" and "the Home Circle," outgrowths of
the Christian Endeavor movement which have been adopted
by many thousands of the strongest men and women in our
churches, pastors of experience, laymen of influence and honor,
and not by "girly boys," for whom the author seems to have,
and rightly, a special contempt. If I read Dr. Hall's con-
clusions aright, he would seem to substitute such an organiza-
tion as he describes in the following paragraph for the Chris-
tian Endeavor and other similar societies.

" Satur= "Every adolescent boy ought to belong to some

Ucen'se" ^^^^ ^r society marked by as much secrecy as is
and compatible with safety. Something esoteric, mys-

cMsSr terious, a symbolic badge, countersign, a lodge and
Instinct." its equipment, and perhaps other things owned in
common, give a real basis for comradeship. This permits,
too, the abandon of freedom in its yeasty stage, which is an-
other deep phyletic factor of the social instinct. Innocent
rioting, revelling with much saturnalian license, vents the

The Society and the Psychologist. 235

anarchistic instincts in ways least injurious to the community,
and makes docility and subordination more easy and natural
in their turn. Provision of time and place for barbarisms or
idiotic nonsense without adult restraint helps youth to pass
naturally through this larval stage of candidacy to humanity."

We doubt whether most practical Christian workers
among children, the most intelligent and well versed in
psychology of them all, would deem it best to cultivate "the
deep phyletic factor of the social instinct" with "much satur-

Christian Endeavor Juniors in Bebek, Turkey.

nalian license," or whether they would think that the "an-
archistic instincts" and "barbarisms" need provision of time
and place especially provided for them, in the church, at

least.

No one has a greater respect for the immense research
and learning of the eminent author above quoted; but he does
not seem to provide for the religious instincts of the child,
which are quite as important as the "anarchistic instincts."

After all, in such matters experience has some right to be
heard. The Christian Endeavor movement is not a fledgeling

236 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

of a year. It has passed its majority and outlived its callow
youth, and the diseases of infancy. It is not a local

Experience -^ .

has a movement adapted to some particular sect or race.

fo^bl It cannot be called a "fad," nor are its organiza-

Heard. ^-^j^g managed by simpletons or religious freaks.

The outcome and results of its work in all lands should be
allowed by psychologists, as well as by practical Christian
workers, to have weight.

The homely old proverb applies to religious organiza-
tions as well as to gastronomies, "the proof of the pudding is
1 in the eating." The proof of the Young People's Society is
I in what it does. The proof of the covenant is in the results
^ that it accomplishes. From all parts of the world the testi-
mony is practically unanimous that the Christian Endeavor
covenant does not develop a forced and constrained piety, that
it does not "obscure higher motives" or "rob religious acts of
spontaneity." Young people's societies of former generations
have failed largely because of the lack of some such simple,
definite, openly expressed determination and promise to do the
ordinary duties of the Christian life.

Not only from cultured churches in America and Great
Britain, but from the jungles of India, from the few and scat-
tered Christians on the banks of the Ningpo, who have just
come out into the light of the gospel, from philosophic Ger-
many, from practical Australia, from people of every race and
color, has come the concurrent testimony, "A promise to do
my duty is a help to duty-doing." "The covenant that I
voluntarily make with God helps me to help my fellow men."
The largest practical activities; work for seamen and
soldiers, for prisoners and for slum dwellers; fresh-air enter-
prises and practical philanthropies of all kinds, have been
fostered, and greatly increased, as succeeding chapters will
show, by "the society of the covenant," the society whose mem-

The Society and the Psychologist. 237

bers promise to do what they think Jesus would like to have
them do.

They have not expended their energies in empty vapor-
ings; they have not developed the glib and precocious type of
unpleasant young saints which some have feared, but have
developed into strong, efficient, practical, every-day Chris-
tian men and women, whose purpose is to put their religion
first, and who have apparently not been harmed by not having
a society provided, in the church, at least, for "innocent riot-
ing and revelling with much saturnalian license," for venting
of "barbarisms" or "idiotic nonsense." If by these somewhat
lurid expressions Dr. Hall simply means that children should
have opportunity to give free play to their animal spirits, to
"let off steam," to be children while they are children, every
one will agree with him. Indeed, this very element of child
nature is often provided for in Junior sociables and romps and
excursions; but does any one seriously believe that the average
child, especially in America, will not find or make opportuni-
ties for the healthful development of these instincts? Is there
any danger that he will not let ofif sufficient steam? We cer-
tainly do not want him to sow wild oats "with saturnalian
license," for, if any idea has been thoroughly exploded, it is
that men and women are better in their age for being bad in
their youth.

Child Nor must it be forgotten, as it often seems to be,

?*^^Vh^ that there is a genuine craving on the part of the
Religious normal, healthy child for religious life and religious
exercises. If psychology has made anything plain,
it is this most important truth. But, if it had never been con-
firmed scientifically, the experience, I venture to say, of my
readers is that one of the deepest yearnings of their hearts when
young was for God and for heavenly things. The distrac-
tions of later life, the influence of evil companions, may have
obscured and befogged this longing until it has almost been

238 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

forgotten; but that it was a genuine and real thing few will
deny.

In the fascinating life of Lord Randolph Churchill, Eng-
land's great but erratic statesman, recently written by his son,
the Hon. Winston Churchill, we are told that there was a boy
at Eton when Lord Randolph was there, who used to read the
Bible and pray with a little coterie. "Churchill was one of
the band, and I can see him now," says a schoolboy friend,
"kneeling by the bed with his face in his hands resting on the
white coverlet, leading us in fervent prayer." Who will say
that that was not as natural and normal a thing for young
Churchill as a football game or a cricket match?

Just here it may be well to refer to the all too prevalent
idea that compulsion in early life makes religious duties irk-
some in later life. Once in a while this may be true, but the
danger is infinitely greater on the other side, that laxness in
early life will lead almost certainly to indifference and care-
lessness in later years. Especially if the compulsion to per-
form religious duties is self-imposed, as in the Christian En-
deavor Society, how infinitesimal is the danger of a disastrous
reaction! Even if imposed from outside by parents or teach-
ers, the danger is but very small, as all experience shows.

The writer once made some inquiries of the leading Chris-
tian business men in Portland, Me., relating to early church-
going and its effect upon their later life.* My questions were
^^g as follows :

Effect of "Dear Sir:—

Early ^t-n • • • <■ 1 1 i- •

Church= Desirmg to learn if the present declme m

°'"^' church attendance, so often complained of, is a reac-

tion from Puritanical strictness in the past, as is frequently
alleged, or is due to laxity of parental authority, will you be
so kind at to tell me

* The results of this investigation were published at length in the author's
first book on Christian Endeavor, " The Children and the Church."

The Society and the Psychologist. 239

"i. Whether in early life you were required to attend
church regularly?

"2. If so, did such compulsion render churchgoing irk-
some or repulsive to you?
*'Any other facts from personal experience or from
that of others bearing upon this point will be
gratefully received."

Of the 50 persons to whom I sent these questions, 45
replied. They represented different denominations, and em-
braced a large proportion of the most prominent men in the
churches. Of these 45, three were not required to go to
church when young, and 42 were. Of these three who were
not required to go, two went of their own accord. Two
others of my correspondents make a distinction between being
required to go and being solemnly and earnestly urged to go,
that is, between physical and moral compulsion. But that
kind of compulsion came within the intent of my inquiry.
Where it is the regularly expected thing for children to at-
tend church, as much as to attend school, that is the best kind
of compulsion.

Of those 45, then, from whom I received answers, 42
were required to go to church as children, two were not re-
quired to go, but nevertheless went. Forty-two did not con-
sider churchgoing irksome or repulsive, one did consider it
irksome, but not repulsive; one considered it irksome, but not
because of the compulsion, and one did not go, and so, of
course, did not find church-attendance repulsive.

Thus the testimony of these forty- five representative
Christian men, obtained without collusion or knowledge as
to the use to which their testimony would be put, almost with
unanimity tells that their early training required church-at-
tendance, and that such attendance did not drive them away
from church, even for a time.

In view of these facts, what becomes of the threadbare

240 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

and sickly objection, "I am afraid to require any religious
duties of my child lest he acquire a distaste for them"? Just
exactly as sensible would it be to say, "I am afraid to require
any ablutions of my child lest he acquire a distaste for a clean
face."

Now what do these statistics show us in regard to the
probable efifect of churchgoing upon boys and girls of to-day?

So far as this testimony goes, we learn that the chances
that the boys and girls of the present generation will become
eminent and useful Christians are as 44 to i in favor of those
who attend church, as 42 to 3 in favor of those who are re-
quired to attend, and the chances that they will be repelled
and disgusted by such requirement are only as i to 45.

Or, to put the matter in still another way, so far as these
testimonies prove anything, they prove that, of those who be-
come particularly eminent and useful in the church In mature
life, nearly 98 per cent went to church regularly as boys, 94
per cent were required to go, and 96 per cent were not repelled
from church even for a little while by such requirement.

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR COVENANT.

WHEREIN THE COVENANT IS ANALYZED, DIFFERENT
FORMS ARE SUGGESTED, IT IS TREATED AS A TONIC,
AND PERSONAL TESTIMONIES CONCERNING ITS VALUE
ARE GIVEN.

" There are only three sentences in our Christian Endeavor
pledge. There are only 178 words, and five-sevenths of these
are words of only one syllable. When before in the world's
history have three sentences gone so far, traversed the globe so
quickly, penetrated into so many lands, and influenced so many
lives? So mighty are they that it is worth while to study
their power ; so helpful are they that it is worth while to fasten
them into our minds." Prof. Amos R. Wells.

NDER almost every figure of speech has the
Christian Endeavor covenant pledge been de-
scribed. It has been called the "backbone" of
Christian Endeavor, the "sheet-anchor" of Chris-
tian Endeavor, the Christian Endeavor "Magna
Charta," the Christian Endeavor "tonic," and I do not know-
by how many other forceful and suggestive names.

These many titles show from how many points of view it
has been regarded, and it is doubtless true that it has had a
greater influence upon the movement in all parts of the world
than any other one feature. It has also aroused greater oppo-
sition than any other feature, but this is entirely natural, for
the citadel is always the target for the enemy's fire.

The most serious of these objections have been inciden-
tally considered in the last chapter. Many others are entirelv
puerile and childish, like the objection of the young lady in the
16 241

242 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

early days of the Society that the pledge would always pre-
vent her from going away on a summer vacation, since she
could not attend and take part in every meeting unless she
stayed at home every week of the year.

Other objections were as amusing as they were absurd,
like that of the brother in Australia who objected to it on the
ground that it was unscriptural, and went on to prove the
somewhat astonishing statement by saying that the Bible said
that there was silence in heaven by the space of half an hour,
whereas the Christian Endeavor pledge did not provide for
any silence in a Christian Endeavor meeting. This gentle-
man was answered by a young man who remembered Solo-
mon's injunction to "answer a fool according to his folly," and
who very quietly remarked that doubtless the angels in heaven
had an excuse which they could conscientiously give to the
Master for their silence, and this excuse was specifically ad-
mitted to be a good one in the very heart of the pledge.
Moreover, he went on to say, "As half an hour is to eternity,
so the silence allowed in the young people's prayer meeting
should be to the whole hour devoted to the meeting."

Most of the objections, however, were neither
and^^*"*"^ frivolous nor foolish ; but they were often the result
Misappre= of misapprehension of the real meaning: and pur-

hensions. ^ "^ or

pose of the covenant. One of these misapprehen-
sions is that it is a mere pledge, the covenant idea being
forgotten. It would have been much better, had it been
called a "covenant" from the beginning, for it is not a nega-
tive promise to abstain from something harmful, like the tem-
perance or anti-profanity pledge; it is a positive agreement
with Christ, the Master, in whom we trust for strength. A
pledge may have but one side ; a covenant must have two sides,
and two parties in agreement. The Christ in whom we trust
furnishes the strength; we promise obedience. "Trusting in
the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I promise Him." This

The Christian Endeavor Covenant.

243

covenant is that which has differentiated the Society in a large
measure from previous attempts to train the young people for
Christ. This has made the Christian Endeavor prayer-meet-

^di gclobc ntcincm $crrn ^cfu ^^firifto, im
"iBcrtraucn auf fetnc ^raft:

Ipag cs mcirt ernftcs Bcftrcbcn fcin foil, alle3cit 3U
Itjun, was mcinem f^errn unb fjeilanb rooljIgcfdUt, ubcr=
Ijaupt fTicin lebenlang einen roatjrt^aft d?rtftlid?en IDanbel
nadj beftcm UJiffen unb (Scroiffen 3U fiiljren.

©ag id? es mir 3ur Hegel meincs £cbens madje, jeben
(Eag 3u bcten unb (Sottes fCort 3U lefen, bie (Semeinbc,
ber id^ angel^ore, nadj Krdften 3U unterftii^en unb ifjre
rccjelinagigen (Sottesbicnftc 3U befudjen.

Jpa% id? als aftices ITTitglicb meinc ppic^ten gegen
- ben Terein getciffenl^aft erfiiUen roiU.

lpa% id? in ben (Sebetscerfammlungcn bis Dercins
iinmer anipefenb fcin unb an bcnfelben nid?t nur burd?
<5efang, fonbcm c^ud? in anbcrer IDeife tljdtigcn Jlnteil
ncliimen w\U.

I^ag mid? nur fold?e (Sriinbe non bem Befuc^e ber
regelmdgigcn (Sottcsbienftc unb ben (Sebetsperfammlungen
bes •J^ercins abl^alten fonncn', bie id? por mcinem f^errn
unb nieiffer mit gutem (Setpiffen reranttrorten fann.

>§oUte id? bei einer monatIid?cn Konfefrations=Der»
fommlung burd?aus nid?t attroefenb fein fonncn, fo njill
id?, roenn irgenb "moglid?, einen Sprud? l^eiliger Sd?rift
einfenben, ber beim ilufruf meines 21amcns oerlefen
roerbcn foil.

SRome: _ _

GERMAN.

Facsimile of a Christian Endeavor Pledge in German.

ings distinct in their type and in their results from former
young people's meetings.

Objections would often be dispelled, too, if it were always
borne in mind that the covenant is entirely a voluntary one,

244 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

assumed usually without any undue urging, after a full con-
sideration of its weight and meaning. So far as its specific
obligations relating to the society are concerned, which are the
only ones ever objected to, they may be terminated at the will
of the member. When other duties press upon him, when
cares of family and church make it impossible for him longer
to perform the duties of an active member, he can withdraw
without incurring any reproach from his own conscience or
from others, for the only lifelong part of the pledge is that
involved in the very essence of the Christian life, to strive to
do what Christ would like to have us do.

The provision so plainly stated and twice repeated in the
covenant is also sometimes forgotten. These promises are
made with the proviso that we have no reasonable excuse for
not performing them that we can give to the Master. This
is just as important and forceful as any other clause in the
pledge; and was meant to provide, and does provide, all neces-
sary and reasonable relief from its requirements when in spe-
cific instances they cannot be fulfilled. ''This leaves one's
religious duties," it has been said, "where they ought to be left,
a personal matter between one's self and one's Saviour." It
brings everything to the touchstone of conscience; it leads the
young Christian to ask, 'What would Jesus have me do?"
It afifords a constant and much-needed stimulus for the con-
science, and in it will be found no word or suggestion that is
unreasonable or freakish.

The covenant has thus been analyzed:

''First, I will read the Bible.
''Second, I will pray.
"Third, I will support my own church.
"Fourth, I will attend the weekly prayer-meeting
of the society.

^^Fifth, I will take some part in it, aside from singing.

The Christian Endeavor Covenant. 245

^^Sixth, I will perform a special duty at the consecra-
tion-meeting if obliged to be absent."*

Each one of these promises has a reason and a special
reason. No one of them is an unnecessary or an arbitrary vow.
Each one has its purpose and important design, and, as ex-
perience has proved, has been successful in accomplishing its
design.

This whole matter has been put in a forceful and pithy
way as follows :

^^^ "Don't believe in daily prayer and Bible-reading?

Analysis "Don't bclieve in taking part in prayer-meetings?
Covenant "Don't believe in going to church?

"Don't believe in supporting your own church?
"Don't believe in doing Christ's will?

"Don't believe in leading a Christian life?

"Don't believe in trying to do all these things?

"Don't believe in promising to try to do them?

"Why, of course you do when it is put that way! This is
all you promise in the pledge— just to try to do them; and the
pledge expressly says that you are not to do them whenever you
think Christ would excuse you from them. Certainly no less
excuse should satisfy you, pledge or no pledge, "t

It should also be remembered that no absolute uniformity
of phraseology is demanded in the covenant. In fact, many
forms of the pledge are now in use, though the spirit and pur-
pose and the general idea in all are the same; in all is the
covenant idea that the Master promises the strength and we
promise the obedience.

The Junior covenant, for instance, is shorter and more
simple than the one generally used by the older society. There
is no child who cannot intelligently and honestly promise to
strive to do what Christ would have him do, to pray and read

* " Training the Church of the Future."

t Amos R. Wells, in " The Endeavorer's Daily Companion."

246 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

the Bible, and to be present and take part in each meeting in
the simplest possible way "when I can;" and this is all that is
required.

The sailors evidently cannot promise to sup-
Different p^^j. ^i^g-j. Q^j^ church, for they have none to sup-

2!. ^}^^ port; but thev have a covenant which is just as

Pledge. r 5 ^ j

forceful and helpful to them in their Floating socie-
ties as any that is taken by those who do business on the land
instead of on the great deep.

In some places in India are Christian Endeavor societies

ARMENO-TURI^ISH,
The Christian Endeavor Covenant in Armeno-Turkish.

composed wholly of heathen children. They cannot honestly
promise to pray to the God whom they have not yet learned
to love, or to serve Him ; but they do promise to read the Bible
and to learn about Christianity. Such are the flexibility and
the complete adaptability to the most diverse circumstances of
the Christian Endeavor movement and its covenant.

The Christian Endeavor Covenanto 247

Some pastors do not find enough in the ordinary cove-
nant, and they are entirely at liberty to put in whatever they
choose. Some have availed themselves of this liberty, and
have prefaced the pledge with something of a complete creed
and confession of faith.

"Surely, if there is any feature of the whole movement
which has scriptural warrant, it is the pledge. The Bible is
a book of covenants from beginning to end. The New Testa-
ment is the 'New Covenant in His name,' and every specific
promise in its essence and spirit in the Christian Endeavor
covenant is commended by Christ Himself."*

A most interesting study would be the story of
Influence Covenants in all ages, and the tremendous influence
o* they have had upon the history of the world.

Covenants. _^ • i /• t ^;o i t t ^

Ihmk of the bolemn League and Covenant of
the Scottish martyrs! There is no more holy spot than the
flat tombstone in Greyfriars' churchyard, in Edinburgh,
where with the blood drawn from their own veins they signed
and sealed the covenant which ensured Scotland's liberties
and made Scotland great.

The covenant signed by the Pilgrims in the cabin of the
Mayflower has had perhaps more to do with the prosperity and
moral vigor of America than any other document, not except-
ing even the Declaration of Independence, which is only an-
other covenant, which the signers pledged their names, their
fortunes, and their sacred honor to sustain.

Every church and body of Christians that has made any
deep impression upon the world has had its own covenant,
though some have repudiated all creeds. Some standard of
living which binds its members together, sets before them
ideals, and gives a definite aim must exist in all organiza-
tions. This is what the Christian Endeavor covenant pledge
has done and is doing to-day in every part of the world.

* " Training the Church of the Future."

248 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

A witty writer has written at length of the pledge as a
tonic,* in which on analysis he finds the following ingredients:

"Chloride of gold, ' Trusting in the Lord Jesus
Pledge as Christ for strength.' Iron, 'I promise Him that I
a will strive to do whatever He would like to have

^°"'*^* me do.' Chloride of sodium (salt), 'As an active

member I promise to be present at, and to take some part, aside
from singing, in every Christian Endeavor prayer-meeting.'
Quinine, 'Unless hindered by some reason which I can consci-
entiously give to my Master.' Ammonia, 'If obliged to be ab-
sent from the monthly consecration-meeting of the society, I
will, if possible, send at least a verse of Scripture to be read in
response to my name at the roll-call.' The balance of the
tonic consisted of water, used to unite these various elements."

fpol^haje V Spasitele sv6ho JeiiSe Krista, jakoSto svoji posilu slibuji
Jeniu, ie se budb snaiiti abych dinil v5e, co se Jemu Hbf; ddle ie se
.budu kaSdodennS tnodliti i Cfsti p(smo svat^ a pokud mi nio2no bude po
cel^ svfij iivot po kfesfansku 2fti. Jakoito £inn^ ilen slibuji b^ti pHtomnu
a uiastnu v ka2d£ 3chuzi nenaskytne-li se mi nSjaki pfek^ika, kterou bych
se mohl svfidomitfi omluviti pfcd sv^m P4nem, JeifSem Kristem. Bude-li
mi nemoino dostaviti se do posvScujkf m£s(£nf schOze, chci poslati oniluvu
svojf nepHtomnosti dozorCfmu v^boru.

Jmino:

Ihu, .18 Adreta

bomemian.
The Christian Endeavor Covenant in Bohemian.

Then the writer, after analyzing the tonic, goes on to tell
how he entered into an agreement with his friend "Dr. Cure-
all" to try the efifect of his tonic upon his patients; and he, the
doctor, was simply to watch results, unless they were liable to
prove fatal. These patients were all in the "church ward of
the hospital." The first young lady suffered from Sunday
headache; another, from palsy of the will, which prevented

* " The Christian Endeavor Pledge as a Tonic," by C. F. Baker.

The Christian Endeavor Covenant. 249

her from making up her mind to do difficult duties; a young
man had a severe chill at times, which changed to a fever
of religious excitement at others. Other cases of partial par-
alysis of the tongue, hand, or foot, which prevented the pa-
tients from doing the work of the Master or speaking in His
behalf, were treated. Tendencies to fast living, flightiness of
mind and purpose, delirious talk of philosophy and science
by patients who understood nothing about either, were all
treated by the same tonic, which according to the doctor and
his fellow physician, Dr. Cureall, was effective in every case.

The fame of the tonic spread, we are told, and orders
came for it from all parts of the world. "In view of this
fact I do not think I should be treating you right," says the
author, "if I did not give you some of the testimonials regard-
ing its efficacy, from those who have tried it. The first is
from a missionary in Africa: 'Having taken this tonic faith-
fully, I wish to testify to its efficacy in making me useful
among the heathen on the upper Congo. I have not had a
touch of fever since I came to this field, but am able to help
in saving the souls of the natives by introducing the use of the
tonic' The next from a pastor in Sydney, New South Wales:
'We have been using the tonic since it was first introduced
here, and find it the best thing we have ever seen to keep up
the strength, courage, and vim of our workers,' etc."

Genuine quotations might be given by the thousand, and
from many lands, to show what the covenant has actually ac-
complished for those who have taken it and honestly tried to
live up to it. It would require volumes far larger than this
to give all these testimonies. Many have been printed else-
where, and it is noticeable that they tell in almost every case
of the practical help afforded by the pledge in sweetening
and brightening the life and in making it more helpful to
others.

In this connection I can give but a few from many testi-

250 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

monies that are before me. These come from young men and
women in very different circumstances, and are
Testhnony. fairly characteristic of all. "The covenant pledge
has brought me from the place of simply a mem-
ber of the church to the place of a working Christian, and
taught me that there is something for me to do; besides get-
ting I must give."

"It has made me a more faithful and earnest Sunday-
school teacher, more loyal to my Saviour and church and
pastor, and more interested in all other Christians."

"In striving to do whatever He would have me do my
every-day life has been changed; it helps me to control my
temper, to put away troubles, to overcome trials, temptations,,
and the fear of ridicule, to put self in the background and
bring before my companions the One whose love is boundless
and free."

"The pledge has helped me by lubricating the clasp of
my purse."

"The pledge is a beautiful bridge of duty over the chasm
of indifiference."

"It has helped me to be more conscientious in the dis-
charge of all my duties, more honest and truthful in my
'reasons' for either doing or not doing those specified in the
pledge. It has made me more prayerful, more earnest, more
reverent, and has made me a daily searcher of the Scriptures;
and because that 'whatever' means not to do, as well as to do, it
has given me courage to say, "No," and stand by it where it
cost something to do it. It has strengthened my faith, and
increased my love for Christ and the souls He died to save.
It has made me a better Christian, consequently a better daugh-
ter, sister, friend, and neighbor. In short, it has put more
of Christ into my life."

The following forms of the covenant pledge are used,
and many others embodying the same idea. It will be seen by

The Christian Endeavor Covenant. 251

these forms that it is flexible enough to be adapted to differ-
ent circumstances, but it is earnestly hoped that its provisions
will not be weakened in any society that calls itself "Chris-
tian Endeavor" so as to become meaningless, but that it will
always stand in every society for whole-hearted consecration
to Christ, regular participation in the meetings, and loyalty

avMif

FlKAMBANAN'NY KRISTIANA TaNORA

AO AMBOHIPOTSY.

FANEKENA.

(1) Noho ny fahatokiako any Jesosy .Kraiety
Mpamonjy ahy sy ny fitiavako Azy dia luanolo-tena
ho mpanompony aho ka manaiky hanao izay tiany
hataoko mandrakariva.

(2) Manaiky haraaky ny Soratra Masina sy hiva^
yaka amin' Andrfamanitra-isan-andro aho,

(3) Manaiky Jianao- izaiy aaoko atao aho hitaona
ny sasany ho Kr^stiana, ary hitady izay asa ho any
Jesosy K.rai3ty Tompoko tandrifin' ny ho any ny
tenako.

(4) Satria voaray ho isan' ity Fikambanana ity
aho. dia manaiky ho tonga amy ny fotoain-pivava-
bana isan-kerinandro ka hahavita izay tokony ho
anjarako amin' izany, raha tsy misy sampona lehibe
izay ataoko ho ampy hahafa-tsiny ahy aminy Jesosy
Kraisty Tompoko. Ary raha misy mahasampona
ahy, dia manaiky hampandre ny sekretary aho.

Hoy

189

The Christian Endeavor Pledge in Malagasy.

to the local church. More societies have failed because of
a weakened pledge than for any other reason.

The form used in most societies is as follows:

ACTIVE member's PLEDGE.

"Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I promise
Him that I will strive to do whatever He would like to have

2^2 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

me do; that I will make it the rule of my life to pray and to
read the Bible every day, and to support my own church in
every way, especially by attending all her regular Sunday and
midweek services, unless prevented by some reason which I can
conscientiously give to my Saviour; and that, just so far as I
know how, throughout my whole life, I will endeavor to lead a
Christian life. As an active member I promise to be true to
all my duties, to be present at and to take some part, aside from
singing, in every Christian Endeavor prayer-meeting, unless
hindered by some reason which I can conscientiously give to
my Lord and Master. If obliged to be absent from the
monthly consecration-meeting of the society, I will, if possible,
send at least a verse of Scripture to be read in response to my
name at the roll-call."

A simpler form used by many societies on the continent
of Europe and in mission lands, and that answers all the re-
quirements of many societies in all lands, is as follows:

"Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I promise
Him that I will strive to do whatever He would like to have
me do; that I will pray and read the Bible every day; and that,
just so far as I know how, I will endeavor to lead a Christian
life. I will be present at every meeting of the society, unless
prevented by some reason which I can conscientiously give to
my Saviour, and will take part in the meeting, either by prayer,
testimony, or a Bible verse. As an active member of this soci-
ety I promise to be faithful to my own church, and to do all I
can to uphold its work and worship."

The sailors' pledge is much like the above, except that
a promise of purity and temperance is substituted for the last
clause.

The usual Junior pledge reads:

The Christian Endeavor Covenant. 253

I will be present at every meeting of the society when I can,
and will take some part in every meeting."

In the pledge of the "preparatory" Junior members they
simply promise to come to the meetings and to be quiet and
reverent in them.

The following is the covenant of the prison societies of
Christian Endeavor:

''First. I will accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.

''Second. I will try to learn and do His will by forming
the habit of praying and carefully reading my Bible daily, and
by thinking, speaking, and acting as I believe He would in my
place,

"Third. I will obey the prison rules, will treat the offi-
cers with respect, and, so far as possible, will conduct myself
without ofifence toward my fellow prisoners.

"Fourth. When able to do so, and not prevented by my
duties to the prison, I will attend all the meetings of the
League.

"Fifth. I will wear the official button of the League, and
will endeavor to make it both the means of helping others and
an honor to the cause of my Master.

"Sixth. On leaving the prison I will enter some honest
employment and become an upright and helpful member of
society."

CHAPTER XIX.
THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR FORUM.

A CHAPTER DEVOTED TO THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
PRAYER-MEETING AS A NEW TYPE OF YOUNG PEOPLE'S
MEETING, SHOWING HOW A CHANGE OF EMPHASIS
HAS VASTLY INCREASED THE USEFULNESS OF THE OLD-
FASHIONED YOUNG PEOPLE'S PRAYER-MEETING.

" Properly conducted, the prayer-meeting generates the
power, which, applied to the officers, committees, and members,
produces through them the practical results desired. Do away
with the prayer-meeting, and the Endeavor society might as
well be done away with." Rev. Sherman H. Doyle,

Philadelphia.

HERE is one meeting that is essential to a Chris-
tian Endeavor society, and that is the weekly
prayer-meeting. Other meetings are important,
but they are not absolutely essential. Literary
meetings and musicales, and especially social
gatherings, often have, and may well have, a large place in
the society. But without them a society could live and do a
very commendable work for the church and the community.
It would not, however, long retain its religious character,
and prove the spiritual power that it ought to be, if the prayer-
meeting were omitted, or held but occasionally.

What the forum was to the ancient Greeks, the weekly
prayer-meeting is to the Endeavor society. It brings the peo-
ple together in sympathy and hearty accord, it provides a
democratic assemblage, it gives every one a chance to be

254

The Christian Endeavor Forum, 255

heard; it provides for the discussion of the most important
topics; it stimulates the intellectual life. Here, perhaps, the
comparison halts, for the Christian Endeavor meeting aims to
do much more than this ; its design is especially to stimulate
and strengthen the spiritual life, to discuss not affairs of state,
but the afifairs of the Kingdom, and to furnish energy and
inspiration for all the many varieties of work which the so-
ciety may undertake.

Some of the great conventions which have aroused the
wide-spread interest of the secular as well as the religious
world have been described; but, though they are the most
spectacular and impressive gatherings to which the
Vast Endeavor Society has given birth, they are not by

oiTIhe*^"" ^^y iTieans the most important or significant. It is
Weekly the little wccklv assemblage, multiplied sixty thou-

Meeting. - , ,

sand times, m country and city, on prairie and
mountain-side, in the church of the rich and the church of
the poor, that makes these great conventions possible, and fur-
nishes the power for all the machinery and exhibitions of
strength and vitality which the Society affords.

We sometimes see a mighty river sweeping to the sea, and
in its onrushing power and resistless tide we forget the ten
thousand little rills and tributaries which alone have made
it possible. Sometimes they trickle down from the mountain-
side, entirely unnoticed; sometimes the spring bubbles up
from beneath the river's surface and gives no sign of its
presence; but it is the rivulet and the spring that make the
river. It is the ten thousand little Endeavor meetings, and
the activities which they generate and stimulate, which make
the Christian Endeavor movement.

If there is one thing more than another that the Society
may modestly claim to have accomplished, it is the regenera-
tion of the young people's prayer-meeting. It is not too much
to say that it has introduced a new prayer-meeting idea into

256 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

the churches, and has substituted for the predominant idea
of instruction the predominant thought of practice and service
and inspiration.

The writer may be permitted here, perhaps, to reprint
some paragraphs * on this subject which he wrote several years
ago, in which the essential point was that the young people's
meeting is for service and inspiration. This thought has been
strengthened in his mind during all the years since these words
were written, and by many journeys in many lands, where
under very diverse circumstances he has found the Christian
Endeavor prayer-meeting idea to be essential to the prosperity
of the movement.

"In many thousands of churches, a quarter of a century
ago, the prayer-meeting had degenerated into a lecture by the
minister, supplemented, perhaps, by one or two long and able
A Picture petitions by the brethren. The following picture
of^Some ^^ ^1^^ prayer-meeting of old will be recognized by

Fashioned nianv '

Prayer= ^ ' , .

Meetings. "The notice was given from the pulpit, 'The

prayer and conference meeting will be held at the usual hour.'
When the 'usual hour' arrived, a sparse congregation of from
six to twenty-six would spread themselves out over the vestry,
occupying as much of the floor space as possible, that the pov-
erty of attendance might not be too evident. The pastor
would give out a long hymn; the organist would play the tune
all through, chorus and all, upon an asthmatic organ; the
scattered congregation would pipe through five or six verses
of the hymn; then would come a long prayer from the pastor
and an abbreviated sermon of from twenty to thirty minutes
in length. The venerable deacon, (God bless him!) who for
years had borne the burden and heat of the day, would ofTer
a long, long prayer, not forgetting the Jews, even though he
sometimes did forget the commonplace members of the Sun-

* From " World-Wide Endeavor."

The Christian Endeavor Forum. 257

day-school connected with his own church. Another long
hymn and prayer, and the time to close would come, much
to the relief of the majority of the audience.

"Many of my readers will recognize this description as
in no sense a caricature of the prayer-meeting a generation
back.

"The so-called youn^ people's prayer-meeting was
scarcely more attractive. The attendance was still smaller,
and, though the average age was somewhat younger than in the
other prayer-meeting of the church, yet it required a great
stretch of courtesy and an extensive winking at gray hairs and
wrinkles to consider the majority of those present any longer
young people, except by brevet.

"The only warm spot in the room was often found in the
air-tight stove. One of the more elderly young men usually
occupied the chair. By no possibility was it a young woman,
and there were many most painful pauses, which could be
filled up only by a frequent resort to the overworked hymn-
book.

"I am far from saying that all young people's meetings
or all church prayer-meetings are accurately described in the
foregoing paragraphs, but without hesitation I can call many
of my readers to witness that a great many meetings could thus
be described without a particle of exaggeration.

"Very evidently there was a fault somewhere,
Was and this fault was a radical one, lying at the very

Fault? basis of the prayer-meeting idea in many churches.

"It was a service for instruction rather than in-
spiration. It was the place where young people and others
should study the map of the celestial city, and hear about the
positions of the guide-posts which pointed to it, but a meet-
ing where they were not expected to take many forward steps
in the direction of that city.

"Of course, if it were a meeting for instruction, it must

:58

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

naturally drift into the hands of those who were able to in-
struct. The pastor, the aged deacon, venerable in years and
ripe in experience; the college graduate, and the glib or gifted
speaker found a place in the prayer-meeting for the exercise
of their gifts; but there was no place in such a meeting for
young Thomas and Henry and Marv and Susan. They were

Getting Ready for a Convention in Portugal.

not wise. They had little experience. If they spoke at all,
it must be in a stumbling and hesitating way. Perhaps they
would break down if they even attempted to repeat a verse
of Scripture. What place, then, for their active participation
would there be in such a meeting?

"For generations the idea of edification was the fetich of
the prayer-meeting. No one was expected to take part who
could not 'speak to edification,' and the remnants of this idea,
frayed and torn as they are, are still the bane of many a prayer-
meeting in all parts of the world.

The Christian Endeavor Forum. 259

"The Society of Christian Endeavor started with another
conception of the prayer-meeting. It was not a place for in-
struction from man so much as for instruction from God. It
was not the place for the exposition of a body of divinity or
for indoctrination in the fine points of theology. It was a
place for practice rather than for preaching, for inspiration
and fellowship rather than for instruction, a place for the
participation of all the average two-talent people rather than
of the exceptional ten-talent man and woman.
Ins iration "The idea of instruction was not ignored, but the
versus leaders of this new society contended that the

Instruction. i i /■ • .

prayer-meetmg was not the place for mstruction
in the ordinary sense of the word, and that there is ample
room for instruction in other services of the church. The
Sunday-morning service is for instruction. The Sunday-
evening service is for instruction. The Sunday-school is for
instruction. The pastor's catechetical class is for instruction.
The missionary concert is for instruction. The religious
newspaper is for instruction. In fact, there are few depart-
ments of church life which have not this for their central idea.
But the Christian Endeavor Society has always believed that
the prayer-meeting was for another order of service, and that
this other service is quite as necessary to the development of
spiritual activities as the service of instruction.

"And so it happens that the whole idea of participation
is changed. There is something for Thomas and Henry and
Mary and Susan to do, as well as for their respective and
respected fathers and grandfathers. There is an appropriate
and modest part which the youngest believer in Christ can
have in the weekly prayer-meeting as well as the pastor and
the oldest saint. And, moreover, it is not only fitting for
them to participate, but it is obligatory upon them to confess
their Lord, if they would grow in His grace and knowledge."

The most encouraging, and to many people the most sur-

26o christian Endeavor in All Lands.

prising, elements in the new prayer-meeting have been its per-
manence and its adaptability. Many were the predictions
that it would soon lose its power, and fall flat and stale. Far
from that, it has grown in importance, and has received the
adherence of new multitudes every year. I am, of course, far
from saying that every Christian Endeavor prayer-meeting is
what it ought to be, that there are none that are dull and
insipid and lacking in intellectual and spiritual vitality.

Weak leadership, indifference, and coldness on the part
of pastor and church, and frivolous worldliness on the part of
the young people will make havoc of any prayer-meeting.
But that in spite of these difficulties and prejudices this type
of meeting has persisted, and grown in strength, and obtained
more and more recognition, is proof of its worth. The fur-
ther fact that it has been so easily adapted to all classes and
conditions of men is another great argument in its favor. It
is not an exotic in China any more than in America. It is
adapted to seamen as well as to landsmen. It finds its place
in the rudest little societies of converted Hottentots and
among the blackfellows of Australia as well as in the cultured
congregations of Germany and Great Britain.
Religion Most cucou raging, too, is the light which these

inherent ^^^^^ ^^^^ upou the Undying power of the religion
Necessity, gf Christ and the inherent necessity implanted
within the young soul to be religious and to acknowledge his
religion before others.

The spectacle of little Lord Randolph Churchill at Eton
leading in prayer with his companions in their schoolboy
prayer-meetings is only an illustration of the desire implanted
in all children and youth to give some expression to their re-
ligious life. This desire is often latent, and it is sometimes
smothered, when it shows itself, by injudicious parents or re-
ligious leaders; but it is there, and in kindlier soil and under
genial skies the seed is sure to develop. That some seeds when

The Christian Endeavor Forum. 261

scattered on the rock fail to germinate is no proof that there
is not vitality in them. The fact that all other seeds of the
same kind when planted rightly and nourished tenderly, do
produce beautiful flowers and delicious fruit is a sign of the
universal possibilities.

The Christian Endeavor prayer-meeting is the nursery
where such seeds may be planted and cared for. It has some
times been objected to as a "hothouse," an objection which has
little force, for little that is forced and precocious is ever ob-
served in these meetings ; but, even if it were true, it might well
be replied that a hothouse is far better than an ice-house for the
growth of young plants, and that when well started in pe-
culiarly favorable circumstances they may be transplanted
with little fear of loss to the larger garden.

It will be seen from what has already been said,

as the author has tried to make plain more at length
AChange -^^ another volume,* that the new idea which the
Emphasis. Endeavor Society has introduced lies rather in a

change of emphasis, which, however, makes all the
difference in the world with the meeting. The moulding
power of the meeting upon the life is due, not to the teaching
which the young people received so much as to obedient con-
formity to Christ's word in confessing His name before men,
and thus obeying one of His supreme commands. It must
not be thought, however, from what has been said that the
Christian Endeavor prayer-meeting consists in the repetition
of stale and trite remarks, or stereotyped words about believ-
ing and trusting in Jesus, such as have sometimes brought the
prayer-meeting of old into disrepute. Every Endeavor meet-
ing has its topic, with many Scripture references and abun-
dant helps. These topics furnish the greatest variety of
theme, are selected by experts in the matter with much care,
cover every variety of Christian experience, missions, good cit-

* " The Christian Endeavor Manual."

262 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

izenship, temperance, and practical, every-day duties, and are
as stimulating to the intellect as to the soul. Besides all this,
in many societies (would that it were true in all!) the pastor
is expected to take at least five minutes at the end of the meet-
ing to "gather up its ends " and to enforce its most important
truths.

That these meetings are no jejune, parrot-like repetitions
of outworn formulas, but furnish as good food for the mind
as for the heart, is proved by the immense pains taken in these
days to make the meeting increasingly useful to all. Hun-
dreds of religious papers every week contain expositions of
the Christian Endeavor topic; the best minds among ministers
and laymen are called upon for contributions to the weekly
theme. Ancient and modern literature is ransacked for illus-
trations of the truth under consideration. Helpful volumes
are published every year, both on the Junior and on the
Young People's topics, while pamphlets and booklets for those
who lead and for those who participate, and suggestions for
varying and improving the meeting, are numberless. The lit-
tle book entitled "Prayer-Meeting Methods," by Amos R.
Wells, is perhaps the most comprehensive collection of prayer-
meeting plans ever printed, and those who study it and use it
in the right way have no excuse for a poor prayer-meeting.
^. ^ The consecration-meeting is another distinctive

The Con= , . . °

secration= scrvicc of the Christian Endeavor Society, an idea
^^ '"^* which it introduced into the young people's meet-
ings at the very beginning. It answers more purposes than
one. It compels the young soul to look back upon the past,
not with morbid introspection, — there is very little danger of
that in these practical days, — but with thanksgiving or with
confession according as he has improved or neglected his op-
portunities, and fulfilled or forgotten his vows.

But he inevitably looks forward, too, as well as back-
ward; for it is the service of the new month, and the new

The Christian Endeavor Forum. 263

old duties which are ever opening up before him, to which
he would consecrate himself.

If there are a backward and a forward look, there must
certainly be an upward look; for it is a "covenant-meeting"
as well as a consecration-meeting, a meeting for the renewal
of the vows to God, a meeting for the reception of new
strength from Him. In fact, in some ways the name "cov-
enant-meeting" is better than the name "consecration-meet-
ing," as "covenant" is better than "pledge."

Again, the consecration-meeting serves as a reminder of
the seriousness of the Christian profession. The very act of
calling the roll of active members puts a new and solemn
emphasis upon the fact sometimes forgotten in the rush and
stress of busy life, that the Christian has been set apart for the
service of God.

This meeting, too, furnishes the best opportunity for
keeping the society active and single-hearted in its religious
purpose. Those who are wilfully indifferent to their duties
are soon detected by the monthly roll-call, and can either be
won back to duty and religious service, or, if it needs must be,
after kindly care, can be dropped from the society's rolls, and
thus no longer remain an incubus upon its life.

The consecration-meeting sometimes loses its power be-
cause of the monotony and uniformity of the way in which
it is conducted. But this is entirely unnecessary, for there "
many ways of carrying it on, which will preserve its f*
ness and solemn power. Mr. Wells in his booklet* on . >
consecration-meeting describes no less than seventeen different
ways in which the consecration-meeting may be conducted and
all its essential features preserved. Here are the glowing
words of this author in regard to the reasons for the consecra-
tion-meeting. They are worth the attention of all Endeavors.

Why do we hold the consecration-meeting?

* " The Crowning Meeting," by Amos R. W'ells.

264 Christian Endeavor in All Lands,

"It is because we see that our initial consecration was only
the beginning, to be unfolded through many hard but blessed
years. We wish to testify our constant allegiance to it, — each
one of us, — and hence the roll-call. We wish to tell each
other how we have. been getting on in our lives of consecration,
to ask advice, to give it and receive it; and so it is a testimony-
meeting. Most of all, we wish to draw near to Him whose
we are, into whom we are growing; and so it is a prayer-meet-
ing, and, in the experience of many thousands, a pentecostal
meeting.

"Magnify this blessed gathering, young soldiers of the
cross. Enshrine it in your heart's best affections. Be true to
it as you would be true to a diamond-mine, for in it lie wealth
for you and joys you cannot imagine."

The scope of this volume does not allow the au-
^hat is thor to devote his pages to prayer-meeting methods
Prayer= or plans. Thcsc wiU be found elsewhere in large
^^ *"^° abundance, but his design is to show what a good
young people's prayer-meeting may be, how possible it is, and
by the history of the past, and by showing God's evident bless-
ing upon the new prayer-meeting idea, to stimulate all to a
larger use of its essential features. This chapter may well be
concluded with some forceful definitions* of a good meeting,
for a meeting practically defined in actual experience in this
way will be sure to be helpful and joyous, and stimulating
to mind and heart. It will open the eyes to spiritual things;
it will unloose the tongue to tell of it; it will show the reality
of the unseen; it will emphasize practical and present duties;
it will nerve the will; it will purify the life; it will develop
Christ-like qualities in every one who attends.

" WHAT IS A GOOD MEETING?

"It is a meeting in which you have had a part.

"It is a meeting in which Christ's presence has been felt.

* " Tlie Endeavorer's Daily Companion," Wells.

The Christian Endeavor Forum. 265

"It is a meeting for which the leader has made careful
preparation.

"It is a meeting that moves briskly yet thoughtfully.

"It is a meeting with much prayer.

"It is a meeting with much praise.

"It is a meeting full of personal testimony.

"It is a meeting that emphasizes a few easily remembered
thoughts.

"It is a meeting that gives you something to do during the
following week.

"It is a meeting that takes one out of himself.

"It is a meeting that brings one nearer God."

CHAPTER XX.

THE SOCIETY'S PROGRAMME OF WORK.

WHEREIN IT IS SHOWN THAT THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
SOCIETY IS A " DO-EVERYTHING SOCIETY," AND THAT
THROUGH ITS COMMITTEES EVERYTHING THAT THE
CHURCH NEEDS IN THE WAY OF PRACTICAL SERVICE
CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.

" Christian Endeavor was not intended to be an institution,
but an inspiration. It has served an end when it has caused
service to begin. It does not aim at triumph, but at training.
It prefers service in the slums to a seat in the synagogue. The
greatest word among its members to-day is ' service,' and this
is well. The spirit of the pledge — 'to do what He would
like to have me do ' — is active, as it should be. Unless there
is action in Christian Endeavor there will be reaction. The
co-operation of God is conditioned on the operation of men.
The Spirit comes to those that go. The Master has help for
him who stumbles in the path of duty, but none for him who
does not start." Rev. John E. Pounds, D.D.,

Indianapolis.

N one of Miss Frances E. Willard's brilliant ad-
dresses at an International Christian Endeavor
Convention she defended the "do-everything"
policy of the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union, which had been criticised by some, by
declaring that the liquor curse affected every department of
life, and so the antidote must reach every department of life.

"In the white-ribbon army," she said, "we have seventy
distinct lines of work, and one of our mottoes is the same that
they had at the battle of the Boyne, 'Whenever you see a head,

266

Programme of Work. 267

hit it!' That means that we have adopted the 'do-every-
thing' policy, since the curse is everywhere."

Since the church of Christ touches every department of
life, the Society of Christian Endeavor with even more force
can claim to be a "do-everything" society, with this one limi-
tation : it will do everything that it believes the Master and
the church would have it do. Herein lie its flexibility and
its strength. It adapts itself to all circumstances, because
nothing that is of real worth in the uplift of humanity is for-
eign to it. It is interested in missions abroad and missions at
home. It has a stake in the temperance issue, and wants to
see good men elected and good laws enacted. It believes in

relieving the destitution of the slums, and in visit-
The " Do= ing the widow and the fatherless in their affliction.
Sodet*'^''"^ In looking through its far-sighted spectacles,

however, it does not forget that many of its duties,
and perhaps its chief duties, lie nearer home, though they
may be but humble ones. It remembers that even the most
sombre pulpit can be brightened by the freshness and beauty
of God's own flowers. It remembers that the church services
are improved by a harmonious volume of fresh young voices
in song. It remembers that the pastor may have errands to
do, and that the Endeavorers are the ones to do them. It re-
members that its own meetings need constant care, fore-
thought, and planning in order to make them of the utmost
value to all. It does not forget that its young people have
social instincts as well as devotional instincts, and that these,
too, should be cultivated and directed aright. Above all, it
remembers that the spiritual nature needs attention; that,
though the flower will turn toward the sun when it gets a
chance, it must be given the chance and not be grown in a
cellar, and it will bloom the more beautifully if watered and
trained and pruned by skilful and kindly hands.

So has come about the growth of the committee system

268

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

in the Christian Endeavor Society. The necessity was there;
^j^^ the Society simply tried to meet it; and this it did

Growth by establishing as an integral and essential part of

of the -11 • ,-

Committee its work the committecs, few or many, as any so-

System. ^-^^y ^^^ ^^^^ them.

The first society in its earliest days had but three com-
mittees, the prayer-meeting committee, the social committee,
and the lookout committee; and these all have persisted to the

Sunshine Committee in Turtcey, Reading to a Blind Old Lady.

present day, and are found, it is altogether probable, in ninety-
nine out of every one hundred societies. Their duties, too,
are defined in the same way as at the beginning; but it was
soon found that these committees were not enough, because,
in the first place, there were other duties to be performed, and
because, in the second place, there were more young people to
be employed than could find a place upon these three com-
mittees.

Missionary work was a feature of the first society from
the beginning, and a missionary committee was naturally very
soon added. The minister felt the necessity, too, of having
some help from his young people in his pastoral duties, and a
calling committee was next introduced, whose duty it should

Programme of Work. 269

be to find out about young people who had lately come into
the community, or who had no other church home, call on
them in their homes or boarding-places, and try to induce
them to come into the society, or at least into the congregation
and Sunday-school.

The decoration of the pulpit from Sunday to Sunday and
of the church on festival occasions had been left to those who
would do it, and often they were overburdened in other di-
rections. What was more natural than that the young people
should undertake this task? and so a flower committee was
formed.

The singing in the prayer-meetings of the church, as well
as in the young people's meeting, could certainly be improved.
Many of the young men and women had good voices, and
they were sure to use them to better effect if massed together
at the meetings. Besides, this duty gave them a real and im-
portant service to perform for the church; hence the genesis
of the music committee. The Sunday-school might easily be
enlarged and some of the superintendent's duties might be
lightened, and therefore the Sunday-school committee was
formed.

We need not go through the whole list, for the natural,
almost inevitable nature of the whole committee system is
hereby indicated.
D . ^. Yet it is strange what an inveterate prejudice

Prejudices =" r j

against cxistcd agaiust such committees in the early days

Committees. , , n i •

on the part of some most excellent and emment
men. Mr. Moody's alleged remark was often quoted, though
I have often doubted whether he ever really made it, that "the
best committee is a committee of three with two absent."
If by this statement, whether made by Mr. Moody or by any-
body else, was meant that there must be a sense of personal
responsibility, or else the committee was of no use, we must
all heartily agree with it. But the very object of the com-

270 Christian Endeavor in All Lands,

mittee system is to increase the sense of responsibility, to make
each member of the society feel that he has something impor-
tant for which he is individually responsible. Everything in
a well-regulated society tends to this result — the election ; the
serious charge of the president or pastor to the committees to
do their duty; the frequent meetings of the committees by
themselves; the consultations of their different chairmen with
the officers and pastors in the very important executive com-
mittee; the monthly written reports, which should always be
presented, and afterwards placed on file for future reference —
all these plans, which are the commonplace features of the
Christian Endeavor committee system, stimulate and augment
this very sense of personal individual responsibility for the
performance of particular tasks.

It was for some reason felt by many in the early days that
young people could not be expected to do such systematic
and regular work, and that all their committees were merely
so much red tape or foolish regalia that might be dismissed
with a smile. This was illustrated in a visit the writer once
made to Mr. Spurgeon's training-school in London. He had
gone at the invitation of the great preacher, and at his request
had told the students something of the work and methods of
the Society of Christian Endeavor. After telling of its pur-
pose and its principles, its prayer-meeting and its early con-
ventions (for this was in the first decade of the movement),
he began to enumerate the committees, ''lookout and prayer-
meeting and social." A smile spread over the faces of the
theologues as he mentioned them; and, when he added "mis-
sionary and temperance and good literature," the smile be-
came audible ; and, when he still went on boldly, and described
"the calling committee, and the music committee, and the
flower committee," the laugh could no longer be restrained,
and broke out into a gufifaw. It seemed to be a highly amus-
ing thing that young people should be expected to undertake

Programme of Work. 271

these different forms of work, and that they could be thus or-
ganized for effective service. But that this is no joke has been
proved ten thousand times in the years that have succeeded.
Literature Committees have been multiplied not for the

for sake of multiplying them, but because they were

Committees. j j /-m i • i i , ,

needed. Uld committees have been strengthened,
and new ways innumerable for performing their duties have
been devised. A great crop of literature has sprung up
around the committee idea, each committee having its own
leaflet or booklet, some of which have been translated into
scores of languages, while all the conventions, great and small,
committee conferences, schools of methods, and practical in-
stitutes for making the committees more effective, are growing
in importance and power.

But in this history we must concern ourselves more with
underlying ideas and their results than with the details of
plans and methods, and the committee idea is, as the very
word signifies, that something has been committed to the mem-
bers to do.

In that highly amusing and instructive story * in which
Jonathan Hayseeds, C. E., figures so largely this idea is hap-
pily brought out, and it dawned upon Jonathan, as it has upon
many an Endeavorer in real life, that, when he was elected
upon a committee, something was really committed to him,
and something that he must use his utmost endeavors to do.

This system of committees, too, helps to preserve the
prop€r balance of prayer and work, inner devotion and out-
ward service. The success and growth of the Society are ac-
counted for largely by the balance it preserves, by its propor-
tions and symmetry. "It is a prayer-meeting society, but not
only a prayer-meeting society. It is a society for Christian
service, but not only for Christian service. It unites prayer
and work. It combines frequent confession of Christ with

* " Endeavor Doin's Down to the Corners," by J. F. Cowan.

272 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

The

Proper

Balance

constant service for Christ. By these two wings it has risen
to constantly new heights of consecration and endeavor, and on
these wings it has flown around the world. Clip either one of
them, and the efficiency of the Society will be impaired; its
ability to rise above the performance of humdrum duties will
be destroyed, and its future be made very problematical.

"On the other hand, a society that remembers
its double purpose, that observes a just proportion
between its prayer-meetings and its committee work
will not fail to become a constantly increasing power for
good. If any society is lagging or sagging, if its members
seem to have lost their first love and their early efficiency,
it is quite in order to ask whether one of the wings has not
been clipped; whether it has not become a mere prayer-meet-
ing on the one hand, or a mere list of lifeless committees, with-
out the spirit which the prayer-meeting inspires, on the
other." *

Another very important result of the work of the commit-
tees is that it provides a place for the obscure, the diffident,
and the youngest of all Endeavorers. Every well-regulated
society finds a place for every one of its members upon some
one of the committees. There is no other way of developing

the latent possibilities of the incon-
spicuous. The younger and the more
bashful in a large society will inevita-
bly hide themselves behind the older
and more experienced members. The
very object of the whole organization
is thus defeated unless some provision
is made for securing a share of respon-
sibility, for those who will not seek it
for themselves. "To every man his
work" is the motto of the Christian
Endeavor committee, and there ought

Rev. Enrique de Tienda,

Late President of the United
Society of Christian Endeavor
in Spain.

* Clark, " The Christian Endeavor Manual."

Programme of Work. 273

to be ingenuity enough in every society to find some task suita-
ble to the very youngest and least experienced. Much, of
course, depends upon the chairmen of the different commit-
tees, but with reasonable resourcefulness and devotion on
their part and on the part of the society at large no one need be
left out of this most blessed of all privileges, the privilege of
individual service for Christ and the church.

This is further accomplished in some churches, and very
wisely, by bringing together the youngest members in some
more general committee, and putting them under the care of
one of the most experienced Endeavorers. Thus the boys on
entering the society, e&pecially if they are quite young, or
have just graduated from the Juniors, may be put upon the
'4end-a-hand committee," and the girls in like manner upon
the "whatsoever committee." As the names indicate, what-
soever is needed, they are expected to do, and to lend a hand
wherever it is wanted. Thus, in preparing the vestry for the
social meeting, taking the chairs out of their stifif rows and
putting them in social proximity, mending the hymn-books,
sending out church papers and notices, doing any of the num-
berless errands or little tasks that are always arising in church
life, these youngest members can be utilized, given something
that is really important to do, and, above all, trained to a sense
of their individual responsibility, and fitted for larger duties
that may devolve upon them.

Enough has been said, perhaps, to show that
Service^' the Committees of the Christian Endeavor society
open it on every side to practical service. It stands
foursquare toward all possible duties that can devolve upon the
young Christian. Its doors open hospitably out as well as in,
and it tells all its members to show their faith by their works.
Not only does it give this general exhortation, which would
often be utterly meaningless to the unresourceful young per-
son, but it tells him just how and when and where to work.

274 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

It does not leave him to his own unguided impulses, which
would probably lead him nowhere; but it shows him practical
duties exactly suited to his capacities ; it makes the society in-
finitely varied, and it prevents it from falling into ruts or from
becoming stereotyped. A committee needed in one society is
not needed by its next-door neighbor; a committee that has
done a good work this year, perhaps, can be replaced by one
that will do better work next year, and in the executive com-
mittee provision is made for keeping all up to the highest
point of efficiency, if only the plans and methods which have
been proved and tried and published are used.

In a word, the committees and all that they stand for
constitute a practical programme of the Christian Endeavor
movement. In an enthusiastic article summing up the results
of the World's Convention in London in 1900, The Christian
World, one of the most influential papers in Great Britain,
thus speaks of this practical programme:

"From the Continent and from Australia, from America's
farthest West, from Africa and from India, the glad multi-
tudes have come together to praise and to pray, to devise
schemes for the world's betterment, to draw up the Christian
programme for the twentieth century. It is a marvellous
spectacle. Even the newspapers are captured, and confess
that this is a big thing. Religion is booming in London to-
day. . . . The Christian Endeavor movement is the em-|
bodiment of the practical view of religion. It has all the
courage of its youth. It has a social programme which is a
menace to vice of every kind. It has a business and political
programme which aims at clean-handedness, fair play, and
pure ideals in both departments. It wants war against war,
and brotherly love in all international dealings. It may not
get all it wants all at once, but its enthusiasm is good to see and
good to feel. One realizes that new blood is running in the
old world's veins, and that its pulse beats healthily. The En-
deavorer's dream of to-day will be the established fact of to-
morrow, its castles in the air solidly planted in granite on the
ground."

CHAPTER XXL
THE SOCIETY AND ITS RELATIONS.

IN WHICH IT IS SHOWN THAT THE SOCIETY IS A LOYAL
MEMBER OF THE CHURCH FAMILY, FAITHFUL TO ITS
OWN LOCAL CHURCH AND DENOMINATION AND
ALWAYS ON AFFECTIONATE TERMS WITH ITS SISTER
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND ITS KINDRED IN THE
CHURCH AND OUT.

" Twice two in spiritual arithmetic are more than plus two.
According to the promise, if one can chase a thousand, two can
put not two thousand, but ten thousand to flight. Twice two
are ten. The Sunday-school multiplied by Christian Endeavor
is a great deal more than the Sunday-school plus Christian
Endeavor. Added, they are four colors; multiplied, they are a
cathedral window." Rev. F. N. Peloubet.

I " The church is the tree, and the Christian Endeavor Society
\ is only one of its branches. There are not two trees."

Rev. Ernest Bourner Allen.

HE relationships of the Christian Endeavor So-
ciety have never been in doubt. It was not a
foundling left upon a door-step, but was legiti-
mately born into the church family, though, to
be sure, in a somewhat obscure and inconspicu-
ous church family, nor has it ever wavered in its allegiance to
its mother, or failed in generous affection for its brothers and
sisters.

From the very beginning it has maintained that it was
in the church and of the church and for the church. Its
motto,* "For Christ and the Church," proposed at one of the

* Rev. N. F. Nickerson of Erie, Mich., writes that this motto was quoted
by the author at the first Saratoga convention (1886) as having been seen by him
on a Christian Endeavor banner, and that he (Mr. N.) proposed its adoption. It

275

276 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

very earliest conventions, has been the theme for innumerable
addresses, the subject of many a poem, and the inspiring idea
in thousands of conventions. The writer has seen it in scores
of languages, on topic-cards and programmes, in letters of
flowers and greenery on church walls, and often indelibly
wrought into the beautiful stained-glass windows presented
by the society to the church.

When the church is considered as a family instead of
simply as the mother of the family, the idea has been confused
in many minds, and the word "relation" is not always properly
applied. As the author has before written, " 'The relation of
the Society to the church' has been discussed innumerable
times, sometimes by hostile critics, sometimes by friendly ad-
vocates of the Society; and it has been too often assumed,
without argument and without justification, that it is some-
thing apart from and one side of the church. It is a 'rela-
tion, a poor relation, a young relation, a relation that needs
to be rebuffed, or a relation that needs a little patronizing ap-
proval. But until we find out what relation the child is to
the family, until we can properly speak of the relation of
the finger to the hand, we cannot with exactness talk about
the relation of the Society to the church.

"What, pray, is the church? Is it a certain
is the number of the older members? Is it the congre-

gation that gathers to hear the pastor's Sunday-
morning sermon or to engage in the evening service? Is it
the midweek prayer-meeting?

"Yes, it is all these and more. The church is the local
body of Christ's followers who worship Sunday morning and
Sunday evening. The church is the people at prayer in the
midweek service. The Sunday-school is the church giving

was not formally adopted, but gradually became the accepted motto of the
Society. At the top of the first convention programme of the New York State
Union appeared the motto, " For Christ and the Church."

Programme of Work. 277

and receiving instruction. The sewing-circle, if composed of
godly women, is the church working for the poor. The mis-
sionary society is the church praying for and giving for the
advancement and extension of the kingdom of God.

"The Christian Endeavor Society is the church training/
and being trained for practical service in the Kingdom.*

The child in the family is the exact analogy of the young
people's society in the church, and for the most part the
Christian Endeavor Society has been a loving child and most
affectionately treated. To be sure, it has sometimes shared
the disadvantages and received the rebukes that most steady
and conscientious children who always stay at home receive.
There is a glamour about the prodigal and his return, which
is more apt to invest him with the best robe and the ring than
the steady elder brother; but that is no reason why the elder
brother should be singled out for special reproaches. It has ,
sometimes been a little trying to Endeavorers to be scolded
roundly for not attending the Sunday-evening service and the
midweek prayer-meeting when other young people of the
congregation and members of the church, who have practi-
cally the same obligation, were allowed to go scott-free from
all reproach, and when no word of exhortation was given
to the older members and office-bearers of the church for
the same dereliction.

The reason is very plain ; the Endeavorers have set up for '
themselves a high and definite standard of loyalty; they have
promised to attend the regular church services unless excused
by conscience upon a direct appeal to their Master. They
are judged by this standard as they ought to be, but, after all.
Some Un= it is really no higher than that contained in the
Ex^ecta^'^ Covenant of every church-member, though it is
tions. more definite and specific. Sometimes the elders

give altogether too little thought to the qualifying clause of

* " World-Wide Endeavor."

278 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

the covenant pledge, which would otherwise be entirely un-
reasonable, that these duties will be performed and these serv-
ices attended unless the member is prevented by an excuse
which he can give to the Master.

Now and then, no doubt, this excuse is stretched to cover
reasons which the conscience ought not to allow; but it is
a vast advance step to make such matters a question of con-
science at all, not to leave them to haphazard of weather and
inclination, not to make duty the football of circumstances, but
to feel, as every Christian Endeavorer must: *'The presump-
tion is in favor of this duty, it shall be my habitual practice to
perform it. I will not ask why I should do it, but rather why
I should not do it." Many weak and frivolous excuses will
fall before this test; only fhe better reasons are likely to stand
it.

But, even when tested by practical experience and sta-
tistics, the showing is entirely favorable for the active mem-
bers of the Endeavor Society throughout the world. On two
separate occasions statistics have been gathered from far and
near; ministers of all denominations, to the number of sev-
eral thousand, have been asked in regard to the attendance of
the active members upon the Sunday-evening and midweek
services of the church. Their replies have been
Tests.' tabulated, and have been found on each occasion to

indicate that almost twice as many members of
the Christian Endeavor society attended these services as of
all the members of the church.

Seventy-six per cent and fifty-seven per cent were the av-
erage of these counts for the attendance of the Endeavorers re-
spectively at the Sunday-evening and the midweek services
of the church. Forty-six per cent and twenty-eight per cent
were the averages for all the church-members, old and young,
for these same services. If the question had been asked how
large a percentage of the older members of the church aside

Programme of Work. 279

from the Christian Endeavorers attend these services, the per-
centage would have been reduced to a pitiably small one in
many churches. It is necessary only to add that these figures
have been obtained almost entirely from pastors and churches
that were not known by the author, and that the averages
were made up by compilers who had no thought of "making
out a case," and who could not have done so from the data
furnished if they had desired.

More recently Professor Wells has received answers to a !
long series of questions from more than 1,800 pastors of every
denomination, and the almost universal testimony of these pas-
tors is that their Endeavorers are loyal to the backbone.

If the local church is the mother of the Society, the de-
nomination has sometimes proved to be the stepmother, and
not always a very kindly one. The first serious objections to
the Christian Endeavor movement came from denomina-
tional headquarters, and the only determined effort to injure
it or supplant it has come from the same sources.

Denomina= ^^ , . , , , , .

tionai It was thought m the early days that m some

jec ions, ^^y interdenominational fellowship must weaken
denominational loyalty, that the young Christians of many
denominations could not learn to know and love one
another better without learning at the same time to know
and love their own denomination less. The publishing-
house and the denominational paper sometimes figured largely
in this opposition to the interdenominational movement, and
at first every new publication of the United Society and every
issue of The Golden Rule were looked upon with suspicion
and distrust by some.

But now, happily, this is very largely changed, except
in one or two instances. The denominations at large, as well
as the local churches, have come to perceive that the Christian
Endeavor Society is a genuine and loyal helper of all their
enterprises, as proud of the history of the past, as faithful to

zSo Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

the work of the present, as any purely denominational society
can be.

In fact, a number of sects that twenty years ago resolved
to have a purely denominational society of their own have
heartily and unreservedly come into the Christian Endeavor
movement. The Advocates of Christian Fidelity in the Free
Baptist churches, for instance, have almost all become Christ-
ian Endeavor societies. Many of the smaller denominations
have accepted bodily the interdenominational name for their
young people, while a number of the larger ones, like the
Presbyterians, Disciples of Christ, and Congregationalists,
have practically never had any other organization. Still
others have added the Christian Endeavor name to their de-
nominational name, like the Keystone Leagues of Christian
Endeavor of the United Evangelical churches, and the Ep-
worth Leagues of Christian Endeavor of Canada.

During the last few years the denominational

Denomina= •^- * r ^t ^ i u ^- t i

tionai recognition* of the movement has been particularly

tSon^^"'^ gratifying. It is supposed by many people in the
United States that the Christian Endeavor move-
ment is represented but very little if at all in the Methodist
Church, whereas, take it the world over, that is one of the lead-
ing Christian Endeavor denominations. The Australasian
Methodist Church, constituted by the happy union of the six
different denominations that followed Wesley's teachings, at
their last conference adopted Christian Endeavor as a neces-
sary and useful part of their church machinery. It is ex-
pected that a Christian Endeavor society will be formed in
every Australian Methodist church, and the consecration-
meeting is adopted as the class-meeting for the young people.

* The (Dutch) Reformed Church of America was doubtless the first one to
give official recognition to the Christian Endeavor Society. Many others have
since followed this example, including the Disciples of Christ, Cumberland Presby-
terians, Friends, Primitive Methodists, Methodist Protestant, African Methodist
Episcopal, and Zion churches, and many others in Great Britain and Australia
as well as America.

The Society and its Relations. 281

The questions asked at the Quarterly Conferences and at the
General Conference relate among other things to the estab-
lishment and welfare of the Christian Endeavor Society,
which is taken for granted as much as the Sunday-school.

In the official resolutions at a late meeting of the Primi-
tive Methodist Church of Great Britain we read that "the
Conference learns with much satisfaction of the continued
growth of Christian Endeavor. The Conference rejoices to
learn that the increase has spread over the whole connection,
and thus reveals that the work among the young people is in
a healthy and progressive condition." In this denomination
alone in Great Britain are more than three thousand societies
and more than one hundred thousand members.

The Methodist New Connection Conference has recently
spoken in the same way, saying: "This Conference heartily
recognizes the large benefit secured to our young people and
the churches of the denomination through the Christian En-
deavor movement, and, after more than ten years' connectional
oversight and direction, affirms most cordially that in this
spiritual agency there are untold opportunities of fellowship,
church loyalty, and Christian activity. It moreover rejoices
in the bond of sympathy in service which binds our young
people to those of other churches, and views with deep pleas-
ure the unity of this movement, not only in this country, but
also on the continent of Europe, in our colonies, in the mission
fields, and throughout the world."

One of the most remarkable testimonies of this sort from
a Methodist source was recently written by the secretary of
the Methodist Church of Australia in New Zealand.

"About fifteen years ago our work among the young peo-
ple was in a very unsatisfactory condition. While we had our
system of class-meetings, including young people's classes, these
were very poorly availed of, and the question of how to nourish
the young life of the church presented a very serious problem.

282

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Since the establishment of Christian Endeavor societies among
us there has been little short of a revolution. Work among
and by the young people is to-day one of the leading features
of our church life. There was never such a large proportion
of young people in our congregations and in our church-mem-
bership as we have to-day. The church courts have recog-
nized the value and importance of the Christian Endeavor so-

The Methodist Episcopal Christian Endeavor Society of Barcelona, Spain.

cieties by adopting a rule declaring that all active members
who so desire shall be recognized as church-members, subjectj
of course, to their observance of the usual conditions of
church-membership."

^. P ^ The Endeavorers have responded most heartily

deavorers' to the Confidence and affection thus expressed by

Response. .1 • i • • 1 1 1

their denominational superiors, and as a natural re-
sult the Methodist Church of Australia is a leading factor in

The Society and its Relations. 283

this interdenominational movement, through it influencing all
the other churches for good.

In many denominations, like the Reformed, the Disciples
of Christ, the Cumberland Presbyterians, and the Congrega-
tionalists, the Endeavorers have built churches, in some cases
a goodly number of them, and thus have strengthened the de-
nominational forces.

Among the Presbyterians eighty foreign missionaries
have been supported wholly or in part in a single year by the
Endeavorers of the denomination.

The English Baptist Endeavorers have raised twenty-five
thousand dollars for the steamer "Endeavor," which plies the
Congo.

The Primitive Methodist Endeavorers of Great Britain
are building a missionary training-school in Western Africa.

Thus we might go on through the list if it were necessary,
to show how the Endeavor Society has responded to the in-
creasing confidence of the denominational leaders.

Oftentimes the society, especially in rural com-
Sunday= munitics, has laid upon it the responsibility for the
SerJice^ Sunday-evening service, a responsibility which
helps it quite as much as it helps the service, which,
indeed, has often been revivified in this way. In fact. Dr.
Charles M. Sheldon, the noted author, who among his per-
sonal friends is quite as much honored for his pastoral insight
and his practical philanthropy as for his literary skill, advo-
cates most strongly the making of the Sunday-evening service
a distinctively Christian Endeavor service, with a brief ad-
dress from the pastor at the end, after participation by all the
members. Much time is often taken, too, for social inter-
course and for evangelistic effort, and Dr. Sheldon declares
this to be the most fruitful service of the week in building up
the church, and recommends it heartily to his brother pastors.

Often in the interregnum between pastors the Christian

284 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Endeavor society has stood in the breach, and has proved es-
pecially useful in holding the church together and binding the
young people to it more heartily. Hundreds of practical in-
stances like the following have come to the knowledge of the
writer during the last five and twenty years.

''Some years ago," writes a pastor in New York State, "I
was invited to supply for a Sunday the pulpit of a church
which was sufTering from 'internal dissensions.' I learned
afterward that the Sunday previous to my visit a business-
meeting had been called to consider the question of closing the
church doors.

"A determined band of young people said, 'These doors
must not be closed.' The vote, when taken, resulted in a ma-
jority of one for the open door. The Christian Endeavor so-
ciety had funds in their treasury, and said, 'We will pay the
expenses of a supply for the pulpit as long as our money lasts.'

"I was asked to come the second Sunday, and another, and
another, until seven weeks had passed. By that time the dis-
turbing element had passed away; old feuds were forgotten in
nev/ activities; and I was asked to accept the permanent pas-
torate of the church by a unanimous vote.

"The church to-day is in the care of another and a better
pastor, has made many material improvements in its church
property, and is a vigorous and telling power for good in the
community. It is my opinion that the Christian Endeavor
society saved it."

The sisters of the society are the other organi-
Sisters zations in the same church, and to all these the En-
^ ^^^ deavor society owes and, I believe, has given love

and service. The older sisters, like the women's
societies, the Dorcas societies, and the Maternal Association,
have never been inclined to "boss" this younger sister, but
have very often given and received genuine help. Indeed, the
Mothers' Association is often a kind of foster-mother to the
Junior Endeavor society, and sometimes even takes its name,
and becomes a Mothers' Endeavor society, the Juniors giving

The Society and its Relations. 285

the mothers an opportunity such as they have never had before
to pray for and with the boys and girls, and to work among
them.

But especially for the Sunday-school sister has Christian
Endeavor, as was natural, shown the most affection. The
Sunday-school was nearer its own age, though, paradoxical as
it may sound, born almost exactly a hundred years earlier; but
its primary purpose was to instruct the boys and girls, as a
primary purpose of the Endeavor society is to train them.
Most cordial have always been the relations of these "twin
sisters" in the church family. The vast majority of Endeavor-
ers, ninety-five out of one hundred probably, are Sunday-
school teachers or scholars. The interests of one organiza-
tion are the interests of the other, and yet neither has tried to
usurp the duties of the other. One puts emphasis upon in-
struction, the other upon training; and, though these two fea-
tures are joined closely together and sometimes dovetail into
one another, the duties and limits of each are easily under-
stood.

In a hundred ways the Endeavor society can be helpful to
the Sunday-school, and many of the societies have Sunday-
school committees especially for the purpose of enlarging and
improving the school and aiding the superintendent and
teachers in any possible way, while the Sunday-school is, and
naturally always will be, a great recruiting-ground of the so-
The ci^ty.

Prosperity It is a notable and easily authenticated fact that

Sunday= the ycars of greatest activity of the Sunday-school
School. movement have coincided with the later and most
prosperous years of the Christian Endeavor Society. One
seems to have stimulated the other. In America, at least, the
Sunday-school conventions were never so large and influential
as to-day, and in many lines the Sunday-school movement
seems to have taken on new life and vigor.

286 Christian Endeavor in All Lands,

If the Sunday-school is the sister of the young people's
society, the Young Men's Christian Association is a brother of
kindred purpose, though of different method; and between
these two most friendly relations have always existed. In va-
rious ways they have been able to help each other, and recep-
tions given by the Association to the Endeavor society have
often been returned when the society has opened its doors to
the Association. In fact, in many cities the leaders in the one
are also enthusiastic leaders in the other organiza-

The •

Y. M. c. A. tion. The highest officer in the American Associa-
y"p*s^c e ^^^^^ recently said to the writer that what was true
of the Sunday-school was also true of the Associa-
tion; its most prosperous quarter-century has been the last;
its best decade has been the last, and he added that, if anything
was needed to prove the mutually helpful relations of one or-
ganization to the other, that was sufficient.

Most Association men desire that all local church so-
cieties, especially those composed of both sexes, should become
Christian Endeavor societies, while to the Association should
be left the general field outside of local church affiliations, in
other words, that the Association should stand in loco parentis
to the unchurched young men, having for their leaders, of
course, church-members, and always working in fullest sympa-
thy and co-operation with the church. This is the field the
Association already occupies in America and Great Britain,
and it is hoped that this will soon be true on the continent of
Europe.

For strictly denominational societies Christian Endeavor-
ers have only good will and fraternal feeling, while indulging
in the earnest hope that one of these days they will all see
their way, as most already have, to come into closer fellowship
with the world's interdenominational young people's move-
ment.

The Christian Endeavor Society also has cousins and

The Society and its Relations. 287

aunts and remote relations among the many organizations for
women and men that are seeking to lift up humanity, relieve
suffering, and bless the world. To these all the Endeavor so-
cieties acknowledge their indebtedness, and rejoice in their re-
lationship. To them all Christian Endeavor says, "God-
speed," and, wherever their allies are fighting the one great
battle, Endeavorers re-echo Miss Willard's eloquent words
with which she closed an address at a Christian Endeavor con-
vention :

"General Phil Sheridan in the great crisis of one of his
battles saw that the enemy wavered; he saw that his hour had
come, and in his dashing fashion he cried out, 'Let everything
go in — artillery, engineers, bands of music, cavalry, infantry,
everybody.' Your Christian Endeavor sends out the same
cry. I thank God that you send it. Flying cavalry of youth,
go in; let the artillery of argument go in; let the women and
children go in; and out from the climax of the battle, by
Christ's dear grace, shall come a protected home and a re-
deemed republic, which Christ shall rule in custom and law."

CHAPTER XXII.
BACK CURRENTS AND EDDIES.

THE OBJECTORS AND OBJECTIONS TO THE CHRISTIAN
ENDEAVOR SOCIETY ARE TREATED IN THIS CHAPTER,
AND IT IS SHOWN THAT IT IS GOOD FOR A IVIOVEMENT
TO BEAR THE YOKE OF CRITICISM IN ITS YOUTH.

" Every new and successful organization must pass through
three stages of development, the ' pooh-pooh stage,' when many
people sneer at it, the ' bow-wow stage,' when many growl at
it, and the ' hear, hear stage,' when most applaud it. Christian
Endeavor has already passed through the first two of these
stages, and in most lands has now reached the third."

Rev. Joseph Broivn Aiorgan.

'VERY great river, especially if it flows with a
^J swift, impetuous current, has here and there a
back-set or an eddy, where for a little space the
current seems to be flowing in the opposite direc-
tion. A stick of wood thrown into the stream
above Niagara Falls, when it reaches the bottom, whirls
around and around, as if uncertain which way to go, until,
taken up by the resistless force of the current, it is at last
borne on and down to the smoother reaches of the great river.
So with the Christian Endeavor stream; it has had its back
currents and its local eddies, which for a time have caused
its friends to grieve and its few opponents to say, "I told you
sol"

It may have seemed from preceding chapters that there
had never been a break in its prosperity, or an unkindly critic
to disturb the serenity of its work. But in this history, since
it aims to be a chronicle of the first twenty-five years of the

288

Back Currents and Eddies. 289

movement, and not a panegyric, it must be recorded that the
Christian Endeavor river did not always flow through flower-
decked meadows and under unclouded skies.

The societies themselves, of course, were not always free
from blame for their difficulties. They were largely made up
of young people, and of imperfect young people, young
people, to be sure, whose intentions were almost uniformly
good, but whose judgment was not mature, and who needed
kindly and patient oversight. In some societies was found the
^^g young man more rarely the young woman, af-

Disease flictcd with the uncomfortable disease megalomania,
Megaio= more popularly and vulgarly known as "the big
mama. head." It was impossible to teach these youths

anything from the experience of the past, as has been said.
"They insisted sometimes upon forming their societies without
a pledge, without a consecration-meeting, and without a look-
out committee, and would blandly inform those who had long
experience in the work that such rules and regulations, though
they might be well enough for some, seemed to them childish,
and 'could not be adopted by our young people.' "

However, these diseases, natural to childhood, were com-
paratively rare, and caused but very few deaths. The funda-
mental ideas of the Society, especially the deeply imbedded
principle of loyalty to the local church, and the rules provid-
ing for the oversight and veto power of the church and pastor
in all important matters, reduced to the minimum all these
natural difficulties inherent in the young people's organiza-
tion.

They could not, however, forefend the attacks of the more
or less well-informed critics, who felt it their duty to guard
the Society against the curse pronounced upon those of whom
all men speak well. Some of the leaders of the movement
who are not famous for rhinoceros hides have winced cruelly
under these attacks, which it often has not been possible to
19

290 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

meet without seeming over-sensitive or unduly anxious to
"steady the ark."

Very early in the history of the Society the critics began
to sharpen their knives, some of them thinking to make an
easy end of "the young upstart," as he was once politely called.
A year after the formation of the first society, under date of
February 12, 1882, the writer finds in his diary the following
record. "Meeting of the Cumberland Association
House of ministers in Williston Church. I give some ac-

Peas"' count of our young people's society. All approve

of it except Mr. — . He does not believe in 'hot-
house green peas,' and is very bitter toward the society."

One of the most dignified and most forcibly put of these
early criticisms, by an influential paper, is here quoted to show
the best case that could be made out in those earliest days
against the Society and its work.

"Christian nurture is as old as the church. It has been
a need; it is a need; and it will be a need. We want it; we
must have it, we die daily without it, but how are we to get it?
We are afraid of the society plan. That is the standing
American way of doing things — to get up a society and have
grand co-operative action ; but this is a case where one may be
better than many and co-operation not so good as operation.
Fill the country with societies, and nothing would be done
until individuals began to do their individual duty. Why not
begin in this way? A great society will not create opportuni-
ties. Good sense, a pair of open eyes, and a faithful heart
make the best society of Christian Endeavor in the world.
Get your little world around you, and begin operations at once.
Have your circle, your meetings, your little societies.

"The society for carrying on so simple a duty is pretty
sure to be all society, and very little Christian nurture. As
far as association is needed, the church is all that is required.
What is the church good for if not to guide and support Chris-
tian nurture and to call out Christian endeavor? It fur-
nishes every required opportunity, and the use of its agencies

Back Currents and Eddies. 291

will not require a multiplication of agencies, nor an increase
of machinery.

"If organization is required, there is every chance in the
world to organize through the church. . . . Young peo-
ple should not be crowded too far, nor into a kind of mature
work they are not fit to do; to exhort and preach when their
minds are callow and their judgments unformed. . . .
The sum of it is, we want the Christian nurture and the Chris-
tian endeavor, but we want them writ small, and not in capi-
tals. We do not object to societies, but we are afraid of the
Society of Christian Endeavor."

. It is needless to point out that the writer of this

Unconscious article entirely overlooked the fact that the very ob-
ject of the Society was to help individuals to do
their duty, and to give individuals a definite duty to perform
which they would never find for themselves. This history
would never have been written, and the Society would never
have found its way outside of its original church home, had
not this been the design and practical outcome of the Christian
Endeavor movement. An old unconscious fallacy also under-
lies this whole article, the fallacy that the church is something
less or other than the sum of its activities, and that something
besides the church is calling out Christian Endeavor through
the Christian Endeavor Society.

The article quoted above of course would not be written
to-day, and it is interesting to note that the journal publishing
it is now, and has been for many years, one of the stanchest
friends and advocates of the movement. Other editors and
pastors, however, agreed with the writer quoted and tried in
every way to "write small" the word "endeavor" and the so-
ciety which bore its name. But it is again interesting to note
that in the great majority of cases these pastors to-day take
no such attitude, and many of them have since helped in a mul-
titude of ways to advance the movement.

Other critical articles of the early days need no comment,

292 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

and are quoted only as curiosities of literature. One writer
is so incensed against the movement that he will not when he
can help it even sully his paper with its name. "It is such an
awkward, meaningless term," he says, "that henceforward it
will be referred to as 'this society.' " Here are two choice
specimens from different papers, one published in West Vir-
ginia, and the other in Connecticut.

A "Among the many heresies of modern things we

" Modern have Selected the Young People's Society of Chris-
^^^^^' tian Endeavor, and will try to measure it by the
Word of God. It is a society that boasts of its membership
running up into hundreds of thousands. They claim that its
growth has been 'phenomenal.' But I never heard of them
trying to show that it is scriptural.

" 'Numbers are no mark.

That we shall right be found.
Eight souls were saved in Noah's ark,
While many millions drowned.'

"If that society exists by the authority of Jesus Christ, cer-
tainly some of their members would be able to show chapter
and verse."

Here is the contribution from Connecticut: —

"You-Pretty-Sweet-Child-Elymas. What and who are
you, anyway, if not an old bird in new feathers? You are a
success spectacular! You are the tail that wags the dog!
You capture and swallow at one gullup the whole city-full,
pulpit and pew! You have come to stay! So comes leprosy
when it finds its affinity!! You have found a fat carcass!!
You are covered with the dust, rust, and moth of ages!! You
are simply an old bird in new feathers!! You are a bowing
wall, etc.! You are a favorite of the world!"

Another writer in the early days inveighed bitterly against
the author of this history because, as he says, "Dr. Clark has

Back Currents and Eddies. 293

prepared a new Bible for Endeavorers." He says, "This
Bible with notes by the man specimens of whose writings
have been shown in these articles is now an estab-
Curious lished fact. The writer has not seen this Bible;
jec lon. pej-1-^aps it is just as well, or the editor might have
to furnish space for another letter."

The fact of the matter was, that The Golden Rule, of
which the author was the editor, ofifered as a premium at one
time the well-known "International Bible," a famous teach-
ers' Bible with notes by eminent scholars. The editor had not
written a line of these notes, and, much to his regret, could not
lay the slightest claim to them. But this critic, "who prefers
to remain unknown," and who had "not seen this Bible" of
which he writes, allows no little matter of that sort to inter-
fere with his sarcasm, but goes on to say,

"Perhaps the International Bible, ivith notes by the editor
of The Golden Rule, will explain to those who accept it as
their standard that our Lord did not mean what He said when
He gave this advice to His followers, 'But thou, when thou
doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets, that they may have
glory of men. Verily, I say unto thee, they have their re-
ward. But thou, when thou doest thine alms, let not thy left
hand know what thy right hand doeth.' Or possibly it will be
said by many followers of this new faith that^humility, and a
hiding of self, was suited to the times before these, but that
now each one should keep himself or herself prominently in
view, lest any good deed or meritorious act go, by any chance,
unnoticed."

One of the commonest charges in the early
Wolf in days was that this innocent child of the church was
cloThing. ' none other than "a ravening wolf in sheep's cloth-
ing," a subtle deceiver, working especially in the
interests of the Cogregational denomination. Some natural
glorification of Congregationalism at a distinctly Congrega-

294 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

tional rally, where members of no other denomination were
present, was used as a basis of such vehement denunciation in
some other denominational papers. This charge had its ludi-
crous side to some of the Christian Endeavor leaders who were
suffering just at that time from attacks of some Congregation-
alists and the lofty indifference and total ignoring of others.

In parts of the country, however, where the Society was
found chiefly in Presbyterian churches, it was considered as
one of the wiles of the devil to lead all young Methodists into
the Presbyterian fold, while in another part of the world,
where the Methodists predominated I have heard the society
objected to as " altogether too Methodistic."

Theological seminaries have frequently been among the
last to recognize any good thing in the Society, or even to be
aware of its existence. Some of them, apparently, to this day,
have never heard of it. By some professors it has been
soundly rated in their lectures or else damned with exceed-
ingly faint praise.

There are, however, not a few exceptions to this rule, in
fact so many exceptions that perhaps they would form the rule
rather than the exception. For among the earliest and most
earnest friends of the movement have been such eminent the-
ologians as President George B. Stewart of Auburn Seminary;
President Beach of Bangor; President Barrows of Oberlin
Seminary and Oberlin College; Professor, now President,
King of the same institution; President Wood of Newton
Seminary; President Charles Cuthbert Hall of Union Sem-
inary, New York; and many others who might be mentioned.
The late lamented President Harper, when a professor in the
Yale Divinity School, was a trustee of the United Society, and
frequently spoke at its conventions.

At the invitation of President Stewart the author pre-
pared a course of lectures on Christian Nurture, with special
reference to the Christian Endeavor Society, which he deliv-

Back Currents and Eddies. 295

ered first at Auburn, and afterwards at many other seminaries

of different denominations,* and wishes to acknowledge the

cordial way in which he was received by professors

Denom= , , ,.,

inationai and Students alike.

Opposi= Denominational opposition, as has before been

said, was the most serious of all, because it was or-
ganized opposition, and because the Society was often deliber-
ately supplanted by others with almost exactly the same prin-
ciples and methods, but with different names and without the
fellowship. The reasons for this opposition are sufficiently
obvious, and need not be dwelt upon.

The hardest thing to bear, perhaps, in these criticisms
was the total misunderstanding of underlying principles, or
the entire ignorance of the history of the Society, which some-
times led speakers on important occasions to travesty the truth
about the Society. Thus at an important international meet-
ing of Christians the speakers pleaded for "heroic service" and
"practical methods," criticising the young people of the day
for "lack of stamina" and zeal, and utterly ignoring the fact
that the Society had for its purpose heroic service for the
church and the practical philanthropies which the critics
pleaded for. The very things that they asked to have done
were being done in ten thousand churches, and they had never
taken the pains to find out about it. One great purpose of the
Society that they criticised for not enduring hardness was to
teach its members to endure hardness as good soldiers.

Other objections blew from exactly the opposite point of
the compass. The Society was "too serious," "too strenuous,"
it "was not fitted for boys and girls," it did "not provide for
their amusement," it made "too much of the prayer-meeting."
Such writers quietly scofifed at the "Quiet Hour" and all such
features. It was claimed that the "four M's," Moody, Mur-

* Among them, Oberlin, Chicago, McCormick, Rochester, Union, Andover,
Bangor, Newton, and Gettysburg Seminaries.

296 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

ray, Meyer, and Morgan, were the patron saints of the So-
ciety, and something "more practical and rational" was
pleaded for. The writers evidently forgot that the most prac-
tical men in the church of recent years were these same four
M's, who by their books and their schools, their practical ser-
vice for the Kingdom in the church and in politics, by their
splendid organizing ability, as well as by their deep devotion,
have probably done more than any other four men
'Four in the recent history of the church. If the society

wanted any patron saints, it could not choose more
wisely than to take the "four M's."

But the objection implied in the criticism was altogether
beside the mark, for it will be seen on other pages that tasks
and duties level with the comprehension of the youngest child-
ren in the society are provided, and their innocent amusement
is not neglected nor their social natures stunted. The very
things that it is criticised for not doing it is trying in twice
ten thousand places patiently and persistently to accomplish.

The very success of the Society has inspired some of its
critics with their chief argument. The rapidity of its growth,
the enormous size of its conventions, have come in for their
share of animadversion. It has over and over again been
plainly proved that the societies that sprung up so rapidly
must die down as quickly, and the mushroom has been a favor-
ite simile in the mouths of some. But there are other compar-
isons which are more illuminating than that of the mushroom,
A revolution in public sentiment seems to be born in a day;
but it is really the result of many causes, and perhaps has come
only after centuries of preparation. The French Revolution
gathered force in a week, but silent preparation for it was
made throughout the century. The Christian Endeavor
movement seems to have been born in a day; it was really the
result of a century of care and thought and prayer for the
young. The Rhone starts from Geneva with tremendous

Back Currents and Eddies. 297

force and volume, but it is because it has Lake Leman behind
it.

These criticisms and many others which might be men-
tioned never really harmed the Christian Endeavor movement.
A tree once fairly planted is rarely destroyed by adverse winds.
It may be bent and twisted in its youth, but it grows sturdier
and stronger because of these very winds that threaten its de-
struction. It is good for a society to bear the yoke of criti-
cism in its youth. Destructive criticism is soon forgotten,
constructive criticism helps it to mend its ways, to strengthen
its weak points, and to avoid dangerous pitfalls. The Society
of Christian Endeavor will always welcome friendly and up-
building criticism, and has reason, at the end of its twenty-
fifth year, to be grateful even to its disguised friends, the un-
friendly critics.

"There is no storm hath power to blast
The tree God plants:
No thunderbolt, no beating rain.
Nor lightning flash, nor hurricane —
When they are spent, it doth remain;
The tree God knows
Through every tempest standeth fast.
And from its first day to its last
Still fairer grows."

CHAPTEP. XXIII.

TOUCHES OF COLOR.

BADGES AND BANNERS, BRIGHTNESS AND BLOOM, AND
THE JOYOUS SONG AND FELLOWSHIP OF THE SOCIETY
ARE TREATED IN THIS CHAPTER.

" Then, again, the Christian Endeavorers can contribute to
the church a cheery optimism which is too often absent from
the spirit and methods of Christians. Young people are glori-
ously optimistic, and sometimes exhibit a ' cocksureness ' about
men and things which is simply delightful. Let not the seniors
be too anxious to suppress them. The ' big brotherliness ' of
Eliab would have wiped out the zeal and enthusiasm of the
smaller but more daring Junior, David."

Rev. J. D. Lamont, Ireland.

iN often-overlooked result of the Christian En-
deavor movement is its introduction of the color,
the sparkle and bloom, natural to youth into the
religious life of the day.

Protestantism is apt to be sombre, sometimes
gloomy. The iconoclasts not only stripped the churches of
the images and tore down the pictures, but they broke the
stained-glass windows, and in their holy zeal against image-
worship removed every scrap of color from many a church
which for centuries after their image-breaking exploits re-
mained colorless and gloomy. The Protestant puts on his best
black clothes on Sunday, and unfortunately sometimes puts on
a sombre face with his sombre clothes. A preacher's Sunday
voice does not always have the same cheerful ring in it that
is found in his Saturday voice or his Monday voice.

There was evidently room in our modern religious life

298

Touches of Color.

299

Christian Endeavor Badges.
Some Specimens from Many Parts of the World.

300 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

for more of brightness, vivacity, and color without in any way
lowering the standards of reverence or godly fear. Much can
be done to show that religion means good cheer for the liv-
ing, as well as comfort for the dying; that it was meant to
strew roses on the pathway of life, as well as to illuminate the
dark valley.

What is more natural, then, since this need exists in the re-
ligious life of the day, than that the young people's society
should seek to meet it; for youth is the age of vi-
christian vacity and color? An outward and visible sign of
Endeavor this brightening of the religious life is found in the

Badge. ^, . • t^ i i , i • i • i

Christian Endeavor badges, which in the very
earliest days of the Society began to flutter from the breasts
of the young Endeavorers. At first these were but bits of
ribbon with "Christian Endeavor Convention," or some such
simple legend, printed upon them. Then, as the Society grew,
in order that one State delegation might be differentiated from
another, and that it might be known at a glance whether the
fellow Endeavorer whom we met on the street came from
Texas or Quebec, from Oklahoma or Oregon, State and Pro-
vincial devices began to appear. The California bear was pic-
tured on the broad yellow and purple badge of the Sunshine
State; Canada used the maple-leaf design; Maine's pine-tree
decorated the badge of the Dirigo Endeavorers; New Hamp-
shire Endeavorers dangled a little granite block from their
badge ; the color of the Vermont badges showed that the young
people came from the Green Mountain State. At one time the
Florida badge was the Christian Endeavor monogram painted
on a great silver tarpon scale, while the Connecticut En-
deavorers did not resent the time-worn joke about their thrifty
ancestors, but hung a wooden nutmeg from one end of their
badge to show where they had left their homes.

But the Christian Endeavor monogram badge had a more
important mission than to lend a special color or the glitter of

Touches of Color. 301

silver or gold to a convention. It has performed a wonder-
fully useful mission in giving the members of the Society an
opportunity to show their colors, metaphorically rather than
literally. It has become a badge of Christian discipleship.
The wearer has simply by wearing it shown to the
One's world that he was not ashamed to be known as a

Colors. ^, . ^.

Christian.

In numberless cases it has kept him out of unworthy
places where he would not have his Christian Endeavor badge
displayed. For this purpose it is well designed, being plain,
simple, and open, and not so elaborate that it cannot be read
at a glance. As has been often pointed out, the E is entirely
enclosed by the C, showing that the "endeavor," whatever it
may be, is within the "Christ."

This simple monogram has perhaps been used more ex-
tensively than any other of modern times. It is adopted by
Endeavorers of every nation, whatever the language, for C. E.
is the universal symbol of Christian Endeavor. Their own
name goes with it, to be sure; but the original English mono-
gram is found in China and in the languages of India, in
Persia and the South Sea Islands, as well as in America and
Europe. Badges by the million, programmes by the ten mil-
lion, leaflets and pledges and papers and magazines literally
by the billion, have reproduced this little monogram, and its
signification is rarely mistaken.

In most of the languages of Europe the initials of the
Society are the same as in English, and pains have been taken
in some cases to give the Society a name that would admit of
the same monogram, as in Germany "Entschiedenes Chris-
tenthum," in Spain, "Esfuerzo Cristiano," in Portuguese,
"Esforgo Christao." In France it has been impossible as yet
to find an appropriate name with the right initials, and "Ac-
tivite Chretienne," with the initials C. A., is the accepted term,
both in France and in French-speaking Switzerland, while

302 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Italy calls it "Attivita Cristiano." But C. E. is understood
in France and Italy as well as C. A.

Since this simple design has been so widely adopted, it is
of interest to read the story of the designing of the original
badge. To the Rev. H. B. Grose, from the beginning one of
the trustees of the United Society of Christian Endeavor, must
be given the credit of originating the Endeavor badge, and to
Mr. F. H. C. Woolley, then a young draughtsman
story of Medford, Mass., the credit of bringing it to its

Original final perfection. This is Mr. Grose's story. He
Design. ^^g ^^^^ pastor of a Baptist church in Pough-
keepsie, N. Y. Several designs for a badge had been secured
by the officers of the United Society, and by them were sent
to the different trustees for inspection and suggestion before
the final decision should be made at the next meeting of the
board of trustees.

"I was sitting in my study," writes Mr. Grose, "when the
letter was brought in to me. The designs were elaborate and
beautifully prepared, one of them a shield, I think. My first
impression was that they were too elaborate, and must prove
expensive as well. My idea was that the simpler the pin, the
better; and the backgrounds of shields and crescents and dia-
monds, and so on, had been used to such an extent by one
secret order or another that the open monogram occurred to
me as more uncommon and capable of the greatest simplicity,
combined with effectiveness and clearness. On the impulse of
the moment I began to put the letters together, to see whether
they would join gracefully. I have numbered the attempts in
the order of their making.* It will be noted that the first idea
was the one finally returned to in the ninth outline, which,
while very crude from the artistic point of view, still gives the
form finally adopted. Satisfied that this was worthy of sug-
gestion to the committee, I made a more careful sketch, and
forwarded it, with the request that the artist, Mr. F. H. C.
Woolley, who drew the other designs, be asked to prepare this

* See illustration.

Touches of Color.

303

in like finished fashion, for purposes of comparison. This
was done before the board meeting, if I remember rightly.
At any rate, at that meeting, November 8, 1887, the monogram
pin was chosen with that unanimity which has been so marked
and beautiful a feature of the trustee meetings, and within a
short time the C. E. pin was advertised by the treasurer, and
began to be seen in Endeavor circles. The design was patent-
ed, so that any profits accruing from the sale of the badge
should be used in the extension of the movement, and not go
into the pockets of private individuals.

Rough sketches from which was made the design of the badge.

"How little any one dreamed in that day that it would
within a few years be worn by tens and tens of thousands of
loyal Endeavorers! Many emblems are more showy, more
glittering, more ornamental, perhaps, but I see none that satis-
fies me so well, or that awakens so many feelings of afifection,
gratitude, consecration, and hope as the strong, simple, speak-
ing monogram in which the ^E' that means 'Endeavor' is made
sublimely significant by the encompassing 'C that marks it all
as Christian.

"These drawings were made on the sheet on which I was
jotting down some points for an article at the moment the letter
from Boston was brought in. I leave the points, too, because
it seems an interesting coincidence that one of those points was

304 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

that 'duty of Christian citizenship' which President Clark sug-
gested and emphasized so effectively at Montreal, July, 1893,
and which now has come to assume so much practical impor-
tance in the forvv^ard movement of the Christian young people
of the nation."

The distinctive badges for each of the irreat

Special . , , °, a^ r

Convention couvcntious make valuable souvenirs. Many 01
^^^* them were designed by well-known artists, and were
selected only after close competition. For the most part the
British badges have surpassed the American in beauty and
finish, though it would be very difficult to find, anything more
beautiful and artistic than the Baltimore badge of 1905. In
the American conventions, however, the badge has usually
been given away to every delegate ; and, when these had to be
provided by the ten thousand, it was evidently impossible to
furnish an expensive one. The effect of the massing together
of several hundred of these convention and State or national
badges upon a black velvet background, artistically arranged,
is beautiful and suggestive in the extreme, for each badge tells
of devotion and Christian zeal and high purpose and youth-
ful aspiration. A banner of badges seems to be a lovely prism
that reflects the colors and the shades of a hundred Christian
virtues and activities.

Such a banner was made a number of years ago, and was
presented each year for a number of years to the State that
made the largest increase in societies. After a time it was
sent across the seas to Great Britain in token of the rapid
growth of Christian Endeavor there, and as a sign of Ameri-
can fellowship and hearty good will from the million En-
deavorers it represented.

Of late years national banners have played a still more
important part in the history of Christian Endeavor, for they
have been sent back and forth across the seas to carry their
message of peace and good will, and to tell also of growth in

Touches of Color.

305

the movement whose emblems they bear and whose ties of
Christian brotherhood they strengthen.

When in 1902 the '^Increase Campaign," which

Increase= -^ . r o i

Campaign has been so remarkably fruitful, was proposed, it
was resolved to present an Increase Campaign ban-
,ner to each State and Province in America that added ten per
cent to the number of its societies. When a second ten per
cent was gained, a star should be added to the banner; a third
ten per cent would be recognized by two stars, just as a star

The "Increase" Banner Given to Oregon by the Church
of England Society in Foochow, China.

is added to the national flag for every commonvvcalth which
comes into the family of the United States. Ten stars would
mean that the goal of this particular Increase Campaign had
been reached and the number of the societies had been doubled.
It was thought, also, that if these banners came from for-
eign lands they would be more prized, and the sense of world-
wide fellowship in Christian Endeavor would be increased.
So the United Society made requests of the Endeavorers in
Japan and China and India and Mexico and France and Bo-
hemia and Germany, and beautiful symbolic banners were

received from all these countries. A prize-banner contest
20

3o6 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

was introduced at a Japanese convention, and the best banners
were sent to America. Many of these were of extreme beauty,
oftentimes wrought by the skilful fingers of the Japanese
maidens in the mission schools. They brought the very life
and color and delicate sense of beauty from art-loving Japan
to more prosaic America. They told of the castles and the
mountains and the flowers and the storks of Japan; but each
one of them, too, had its religious sentiment, and told of broth-
erhood and loyalty to Christ.

Some of the Chinese banners were particularly touching
in their designs, for the border represented the fires of perse-
cution through which the Chinese church had passed in the
Boxer uprising; one side showed the design of a lotus flower
blooming upon the surface of a pool, indicating that, as the
lotus flower came up from the slime of the ditch and bloomed
in glorious beauty and fragrance, so the Christian church of
China, arising from the depths of its persecution, would bloom
more gloriously than ever. On the other side within the
C. E. monogram were wrought the names of the Chinese
Christian Endeavor martyrs who died for their faith at the
time of the siege of Peking, the names of the women martyrs
within the letter "E" and of the men within the "C." Such
a design, with various modifications, was a great favorite, and
like banners were given to a number of States as a perpetual
reminder that Christian Endeavor should be heroic as well
as beautiful.

Other countries have now taken up this American idea,
and fellowship banners have been presented by the United
Society to several countries that have entered successfully
upon the Increase Campaign.

Color The great conventions are naturally the place

Qreat whcrc the "color scheme" of Christian Endeavor,

Conventions, if we may so call it, finds its largest expression.
When tens of thousands of young people come together with

Touches of Color. 307

their gayety and good spirits, their badges and their banners,
their cheerful songs and salutations and State rallying-cries,
it can be imagined that there is nothing sombre or long-faced
about the religion they exemplify. The cities themselves an-
ticipate the coming, and put on their best attire, like a matron
who adorns herself in her finest jewels and silks to welcome
an honored guest.

Here is a description of the appearance of a city on the
eve of an international convention: "White and gold every-
where; flags, festoons, streamers, and banners decorated in
profusion public and private buildings, business blocks and
residences. Storekeepers vied with each other in making dis-
plays of their goods which should most beautifully combine
the two colors. Florists filled their windows with white and
yellow daisies, Japan lilies, and goldenrod. Jewellers de-
voted their show windows to most ingenious arrangements of
silver and gold. Dry-goods dealers displayed a wealth of
white and yellow silk, ribbons, and fabrics of all kinds. Book-
sellers gave a conspicuous place to their white and gold edi-
tions. Prettiest of all, great numbers of young ladies adopted
for their home and street costume white dresses with golden-
hued belt and trimmings." *

All this was because the Christian Endeavor colors of
Cleveland, where the convention was held that year, were
white and gold; and the citizens took this way of expressing
their welcome to the great gathering.

Boston has the reputation, largely undeserved, of being
a cold, self-contained city. If it ever deserved the name, its
coldness surely melted and the streets of the old Puritan city
certainly became bright when the Endeavorers invaded them.
A descriptionf of the city written at the time of the conven-
tion of '95 is worth quoting while we are writing of the touch

* Report of the Thirteenth Annual International Convention.

t Report of the Fourteenth International Christian Endeavor Convention.

3o8 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

of color which Christian Endeavor has brought to the religi-
ous life of the generation.

"Boston frigidity! Forever henceforth let that
Brightness p^rasc hide its head in shame! To say nothing of
Boston. the crowded enthusiastic rallies that have preceded
this convention, where audiences of seven and eight
thousand went wild with Christian Endeavor zeal ; to say noth-
ing of those bands of beautiful-faced maidens and energetic
lads that were striking warm hands with each incoming dele-
gate, holding aloft 'Welcome' placards, and beaming a wel-
come most unmistakable in their happy faces; to say nothing
of homes thrown wide open and churches with doors taken
from their hinges; to say nothing of newspapers bubbling over
with hundreds of columns of vivid narrative and bright pic-
tures, and of the universal interest shown in shop and street;
to say nothing of these and a thousand things more, there were
the decorations.

" 'When did Park Street Church ever do such a thing be-
fore?' asked an astonished lady as she saw the dignified front
of that grand old church festooned with the gayest of bunting
in honor of Park Street's Illinois guests. Far out in Boston's
galaxy of lovely suburbs the railway stations and the homes
had blossomed out in white for purity and scarlet for love —
pure love! As for the city streets, they were all in a flutter of
bright color.

"The great mercantile establishments vied with one
another in ingenious arrangement and lavish use of the red
and white. The wholesale dealers in cloth of the popular
hues told pitiful stories of the immense quantities of bunting
they might have sold if they had only made sufficient provision
for Boston's frigidity!

"The Convention banner proper appeared everywhere —
tied to the trolley-arms of the electric cars, adorning the head-
lights of locomotives, flying from windows innumerable. Red
and white flowers in the Public Garden had grouped them-
selves into the same pretty banner and into C. E, monograms
as well, open Bibles, Christian Endeavor mottoes, badges, and
the like. Never before have the charming PulDlic Gardens

Touches of Color. 309

put on such festive attire, rustic archways adorning the en-
trances and the bridges, and an admirable array of flowers and
shrubs delighting the eyes of the ever-present throngs."

^ , But the touch of color is not confined to Ameri-

Color

in _ can Endeavorers and conventions by any means.

The Rev. Herbert Halliwell, the secretary of the
United Society of India, tells us about a visit he recently made
to Madura. "From far and near," he says, "from the great
city itself and the outlying villages, had marched in, to the
number of one thousand, the Junior and Senior Endeavorers,
with drums beating, banners flying, and Tamil lyrics vocifer-
ously shouted. Little wonder the whole city was stirred, and
crowds of Hindus stood around watching the animated scene."

Rev. James Mursell, describing the latest convention in
South Australia, says, "The state tea-tables were ablaze with
bright ideas; the Juniors, in harmony with the exercise of their
rally, 'Building the Christian Endeavor Ship,' decorated their
tables with ships that sailed around a lighthouse, where a
lamp revolved, shining upon the guests. The Broken Hill
Union brought a huge lump of silver ore from their world-
famous mines, and set it as a centrepiece, while model trains
bore trucks of the same precious metal to and fro. Endeavor
is the same beautiful and inspiring movement all over the
world. It is itself the brightest of ideas. No wonder it
inspires them."

Mr. Eliezer dos Sanctos Saraiva, secretary of the Bra-
zilian Union, says that the national Endeavor banner of Brazil
is a yellow C. E. monogram on a green field. All local socie-
ties adopt this banner, and "The Endeavorers go to their
meetings," he says "in some places in canoes which float the
green and yellow banner of the national union."

Dr. Pelteje-iells how a -proce^si-on-of- Endeavorers at a
Japanese convention marched two miles through the big, bus-
tling city of Osaka, preaching Christianity all the way as they

3IO Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

A Remarkable Banner from China.

Touches of Color. 311

carried their flags and banners from the church by the river
to the school by the castle where the Junior rally and the gen-
eral social gathering were held.

But there is vocal color as well to which Christian En-
deavor has given expression. As the long line of electric
cars, sometimes nearly a mile in length, has borne to their
homes after the convention meetings the young people whose
hearts have been warmed and whose intellects have been stim-
ulated in the great gathering, the whole city has rung with
their melody, and through the highways, and into the corri-
dors of the hotels, and out into the suburbs even, has gone the
joyous refrain, "There is sunshine in my soul," or some such
convention favorite.

It must not be supposed, however, that all the color and
sunshine and gladness are reserved for the convention days
alone, or for special anniversaries and great assemblages. The
brightness of a happy religious life is often taken, as will be
shown in other chapters, into hospitals and poorhouses, and
to Old Ladies' Homes, and to sailors whose ships lie in the
harbor, and to all sorts of places, and to all conditions of men,
who are helped by the sight of a bright face, a bit of color, a
fragrant flower, or a happy song. Thus is the color scheme
of Christian Endeavor worked out, and religion is made to
appear the bright and joyous thing it really is, to a multitude
who never before appreciated "the beauty of holiness."

CHAPTER XXIV.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR AS AN EDUCATOR.

HEREIN ARE FOUND SOME HINTS OF THE INTELLECTUAL
STIMULUS OF THE SOCIETY, PROVIDED BY THE PRAYER-
MEETINGS, THE SOCIAL GATHERINGS, THE SUMMER
SCHOOLS, CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS, AND WORKERS'
INSTITUTES.

" This great religious movement is characterized by a
growth of Christian intelligence that augurs well for the future
of the church. This wonderful stir among our Christian En-
deavor millions means a great increase of the readers of good
literature; it m.eans a growing appetite for knowledge that will
swell the attendance at our colleges and universities; it means
a familiarity with the Bible and books growing out of it such
as was never known before." Rev. W . J. Darby, D.D.,

Evansville, Ind.

iT has sometimes been thought by those who have
not carefully followed the development of the
Christian Endeavor movement that it neglected
the intellectual development of its members. It
has been supposed that in putting so much em-
phasis upon heart and conduct the mind has not been suffi-
ciently cultivated. The object of this chapter is to show from
the history of what has actually been done that this is a mis-
apprehension, and that the Endeavor movement has been use-
ful in stimulating the mind, as well as in enlarging the heart
and quickening the conscience.

To be sure, the Society has been careful, and properly
so, not to intrench upon the domain of other organizations
in the church or outside of it. There has been no necessity
for the formation of another Sunday-school movement, and

312

Christian Endeavor as an Educatoro 313

the Society has not attempted it. Plans for the study of the
Bible almost innumerable exist; and, while many have been
recommended to Endeavorers and adopted by them, the So-
ciety has not thought it necessary to add other schemes of
Bible-study to those that already exist.

Care has been taken, too, to avoid what would have been
the disastrous mistake of making the weekly young people's
meeting a mere Bible-class or lecture-course. These are al-
ready amply provided for. But the place now occupied by
the young people's meeting, the hour of free expression, of
heart-testimony, of fervent prayer, of happy song and spiritual
inspiration, was not provided for in any systematic way before
the Christian Endeavor Society came into existence.

When we say, however, that study and instruction are not
the chief purpose of the young people's meetings, it must not
be implied that this contains no direct intellectual stimulus.
This is very far from being true. When the heart is awak-
ened, the mind is almost necessarily stimulated, and many a
young person in the young people's meeting has learned for
the first time that he had intellectual capacities which must
be dedicated to the Master's service, that he had a career be-
fore him and a special mission to fulfil.

The provision of the Christian Endeavor meeting that
each one shall "take some part, however slight," has been par-
ticularly fruitful in uncovering neglected and unknown abili-
ties. Many a young man who has not dreamed that he could
speak a word helpful to others has learned to his surprise that
his napkin contained an unsuspected talent. He has been dis-
covered to himself and to the church by this simple provision
of the prayer-meeting, and oftentimes not to his church only,
but to the community, and perhaps to the whole denomina-
tion. It is not exaggeration to say that during the last twenty-
five years the writer has received hundreds of letters from
ministers and prominent Christian workers, saying that they

314 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

got their start along intellectual and religious lines in the
Christian Endeavor meeting, and many have told
start him they would never have been in the pulpit

?ntenectuai preaching the gospel, w^ere it not that they had
Lines. promised as boys to do w^hat Christ would have

them do, and to take some part, aside from singing, in each
Christian Endeavor prayer-meeting.

Says the Rev. Howard A. Bridgman:

"Many an Endeavorer owes to the movement a large
measure of intellectual culture, for nothing so develops the
mental faculties as a genuine commitment to the Christian life.
Boys and girls who might never have thought of a college edu-
cation, or read books to any extent, or valued libraries, have,
because of their enlistment under the banner of Endeavor,
waked up to the richness and the meaning of human life. It
was said of a certain woman after her death, 'She had no edu-
cation but the love of God.' " *

The development of the Christian Endeavorers along
intellectual lines is further stimulated by much of the com-
mittee service that is demanded of them. Each committee,
when its work is properly done, requires careful planning,
consultation, study, and some executive ability in carrying
out its plans. All these efforts are distinct wit-sharpeners;
they draw upon the intellectual resources which are increased
by their use. The monthly written reports, and the annual
surveys of the work, which are given in most societies, and
should be expected in all, are distinctly intellectual acts, and
stimulate the faculty of expression as really as a theme in
school or an essay before a literary society.

Allusion has already been made to the great number of
Christian Endeavor periodicals, books, and pamphlets in
many languages. All these naturally contribute something to
the intellectual life of the Society. As I write these words,

* The Congregationalist.

christian Endeavor as an Educator. 315

3id Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

a request comes from the editor of an important American
magazine, who proposes to print an article on Christian En-
deavor, and says, 'Tlease gather together all the written and
unwritten- history of the Society, and send us these and the
photographs at your earliest convenience." This is what the
^^ English would call "rather a large order," since the

"Written printed history of the Society, if all the documents
Unwritten werc available and were sent to this unsuspecting
History." g^itor, would fill at least a hundred large trunks,
while the written history that has not been printed, to say
nothing of the unwritten history, which it would be somewhat
difficult to send to him, would be even more voluminous.

However, this editor's ignorance of the written and un-
written history of the Society may easily be forgiven, since
doubtless many other people think that it is all comprised in
a few booklets or newspaper columns.

Much of this literature is of a distinctively educational
quality, dealing, to be sure, largely with practical church
work, methods of benevolence, and ways of advancing the
kingdom of Christ on earth. But why is not this of real edu-
cational value, as well as the study of bugs or fossils or mi-
crobes or animalculae? Why should there not be a science of
practical morality and religion, as well as a science of rocks,
and mathematical formulae? Christian Endeavor has some-
times been called "the science of applied Christianity." It/
is a good name, and one to which the members of the Society
are glad to feel that they have some title.

A multitude of text-books for all kinds of practical re-
ligious work is issued by the United Society in America and
by the British and German national unions. These have been
translated into scores of languages, while original books, still
better suited to their needs, have been printed in China and
Japan and other Oriental countries.

Mr. Amos R. Wells has truly said: -- -

Christian Endeavor as an Educator. 317

"One of the greatest things the United Society of Chris-
tian Endeavor has done is to publish a complete set of printed
helps for Christian Endeavor work. Never since time began
has a religious movement created for itself a set of helps so
complete and useful. You can buy from the United Society,
at the cost of a few cents, guides for all kinds of Christian En-
deavor work. If it is an important committee, like the

JuHANNESLUND MISSIONARY INSTITUTE, STOCKHOLM,

Where Christian Endeavor Found an Early Home in Sweden.

prayer-meeting committee, you can get a book, costing thirty-
five cents, containing the fullest collection of prayer-meeting
plans ever made, and all of them proved by the experience
of many societies. If it is a subordinate committee, like the
flower commitee, you will find its work explained, with all
needed suggestions for new and delightful outreaches, in a
five-cent pamphlet. And so it is with every line of Christian
Endeavor activity. With a fulness proportioned to the im-
portance and complexity of the work the United Society have
ready for your use a leaflet or a pamphlet or a book, and all
at the lowest possible cost.

3i8 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

*'As to the quality of these books, I hesitate to speak, so
many of them bear my own name on the cover! But I can
modestly say of most of them that they are the very best in
existence — because there is nothing else in existence of the
kind! And of all of them I can say that they are far more the
work of the Endeavorers everywhere than of myself, being
crammed with the plans that their bright brains have devised
and their faithful will executed in thousands of societies all
over the land." *

When we come to the practical methods and
Pians"^*' plans devised by Christian Endeavorers, the writer
is simply overwhelmed with the amount of material
at his hand which tells how the young people have set their
wits at work along every possible line of practical Christian-
ity. Here is the "Unanimous Library" (to mention but one
in this connection), a novel campaign for circulating mission-
ary books, devised by Mr. W. L. Amerman, of New York.
The plan is too long to be detailed in full; but it may be said
in a word that it is a device for securing the reading of inter-
esting missionary books by the young people. The campaign
continued for just ten weeks in the case of one book called
"One Hundred Girls of India;" and, when the returns were
all in, it was found that 438 people in all had read the book,
and that of these the enthusiastic Juniors had secured the
largest number of readers.

Such plans, more or less elaborate for all departments of
work, have been printed in every issue of The Christian En-
deavor World for nearly twenty years, and the editor always
has scores of plans on hand for which he cannot find room.
When these are all brought together, the bulk of them, and
in many cases their excellence is simply surprising.

The local-union meetings and other conventions have
stimulated the wits of a multitude of young people, in pre-
paring programmes, in devising something fresh and new, in

* The Christian Endeavor World.

Christian Endeavor as an Educator. 319

learning the art of putting things, for to suggest a good title
for an address or conference. is one of the best tests of intel-
lectual keenness.

The Australian programmes have been models of typo-
graphical beauty, with which has often been combined a liter-
ary excellence which has made them souvenirs worthy of pres-
ervation.
^,. , ,. The social gatherings have also often been in-

Stimulating ^ °

Social tellectually stimulating. Two or three small vol-

rings. ^j^gg Q^ plans for sociables have been published;
and the ingenuity, wit, and literary skill displayed in many of
them would scarcely be credited by those who know nothing
of the subject. Authors in many languages, proverbs, quota-
tions from every source, have been laid under contribution by
these keen young minds in devising social gatherings which
shall be helpful as well as interesting, and which provide the
fellowship feature of Christian Endeavor.

Missionary reading-circles have recently come greatly
into vogue, and hundreds of societies have formed such cir-
cles for the reading and study of the books prescribed by their
denominational missionary authorities.

Collections of missionary curios, too, often stimulate in-
terest, and arouse intellectual curiosity. The Church of Eng-
land Endeavourer tells of a little society in a country place
whose members, numbering only twenty-five in all, set to work
to gather missionary curios for an exhibition, and found to
their surprise that after three months' work they had a collec-
tion of three hundred pieces, representing India, China, Mad-
agascar, and the South Seas. Nearly everything was found
in the neighborhood. Members of the society, dressed in for-
eign attire, described the articles as they were on exhibition
during an afternoon, and in the evening a rousing missionary
meeting was held and a substantial collection taken.

Professor Wells has projected several courses of Bible-

320 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

reading in the columns of The Christian Endeavor World,
one of which was followed by more than ten thousand people
who recorded their names, while all have enlisted many
readers.

Reading-circles have very often been organized in Chris-
tian Endeavor societies for the study of general literature, and
an excellent reading-course has been suggested by The Chris-
tian Endeavour Times of London and by the American papers
as well. The good-literature committees of many societies
have been active in circulating denominational and other re-
ligious papers, and probably millions of copies of papers and
magazines have been sent by different unions and societies to
hospitals, soldiers' and sailors' homes, and other institutions
in all parts of the world. A literature-table is a common
sight in many churches. It oftentimes stands in the vestibule,
and is made an exchange for the circulation of religious and
other papers and magazines, the Christian Endeavorers taking
charge of it, keeping it in order, and collecting and distrib-
uting the reading-matter which is supplied.

A more recent development of the intellectual
Endeavor life of Christian Endeavor is seen in the many in-
Schoois'* stitutes and summer schools and officers' schools,
and committee conferences, which are now being
held in many countries. The schools of methods are essen-
tial parts of every large convention in these days. Half a
score of them sometimes are being held at the same time. In
these every phase of practical Christianity is discussed and
taught. The committees, the social gatherings, the prayer-
meeting, the missionary work of the church, temperance and
good citizenship, all come under review, and plans are sug-
gested and discussed for advancing every good cause.

The first distinctive Christian Endeavor summer school
was held in the birth-State of Christian Endeavor, as was alto-
gether appropriate, and the Rev. C. D. Crane, the efficient

Evangelistic Endeavor.

321

field secretary of the Maine Union, was the father of it. It
was held in Yarmouth, Me., July 8-26, 1892. The scope and
character of this school can best be understood by a description
which appeared in The Christian Endeavor World at the
time.

"Every morning was divided into four periods. Two of
these throughout were in charge of Miss Margaret Koch.

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Christian Endeavor Summer School, Yarmouth, Me.

National conventions have shown the Endeavorers what an
inspiring speaker Miss Koch is, inspiring in her splendid phys-
ical presence as well as in the vigorous thought to which she
gives such graceful utterance. Her work was a daily drill in
expression and in voice and physical culture, a genuine tonic
for both mind and body.

"There was also a daily hour of Bible-study conducted
by Rev. Bowley Green, Dr. Smith Baker, and Rev. Howard
Grose — masters, all of them, in the art of teaching.

322 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

"The fourth hour was given up to practical instruction in
Christian Endeavor methods of work. Rev. H. W. Pope
gave a course in personal work and soul-winning; Professor
Parker treated Christian Endeavor music; Miss Ella Mac-
Laurin spoke of mission studies, and Mr. Wells of Christi-an
Endeavor committee work.

"The afternoons were spent in various excursions through
the charming neighborhood, in quiet reading and happy fun.

"The evening sessions were popular in character, and
were given up to lectures and addresses, several with the aid
of the stereopticon. . . . The Endeavorers that attended
were well fed. They carried away minds that were enriched
in many ways, and the food they received they had time to
digest. There is much in that."

This first summer school was so successful in Maine that
it was followed by others in the same State, and in 1905 one
was held in the eastern and another in the western part of the
State in order the better to accommodate the needs of the
widely scattered Endeavorers in this commonwealth of mag-
nificent distances.

A Maine's example has been followed by other

Home States, and the most notable example of the summer-

ChHstian school idea will soon be introduced on the coast of
Endeavor. Massachusetts, where some Christian Endeavor
leaders, backed by ample capital, have secured a large tract
of land on the shores of Cape Cod Bay. This has every pos-
sible natural advantage, a long sea-front, the land rising in
beautifully wooded terraces behind, while a fresh-water lake
but a little distance off is also connected with the Christian
Endeavor summer home. Here will be erected a pavilion
and audience-room, and schools of methods will be estab-
lished, as well as mission-study schools and literary classes,
which will make the place an intellectual centre for a multi-
tude of young people. That it is intended to be a recreational
centre, too, is made evident by the fact that baseball diamonds

christian Endeavor as an Educator.

323

and tennis-courts, bowling-alleys and basket-ball and golf
links are all in the plan.

Along other lines, too, the intellectual side of Christian
Endeavor has been stimulated by the many "institutes" and
"conferences" which have lately been inaugurated. One of
the most notable of these, and the forerunner of many others,
was held in Philadelphia in December, 1903. For three days
the trustees of the United Society and many leading Endeavor-
ers, largely officers of State and local unions, came together
for a simple conference and exchange of views. Not a single
long speech was permitted during the morning or the after-

New Summer Home of Christian Endeavor at
Sagamore Beach.

noon sessions. A printed syllabus prepared in advance cov-
ered every phase of Christian Endeavor work, and this was
taken up, item by item, under the leadership of some expert
worker, and freely, but very briefly, discussed by all on the
floor. It was a most profitable and stimulating occasion, and
one which has since been duplicated in many places. On a
still larger scale it was repeated in New York in February,
1906.

Institutes In 1905 New Jersey had the first School for

Junior Junior Superintendents at Asbury Park, and the

Schools. "Christian Endeavor Institute of the Northwest,"
held at Portland, Or., in connection with the Lewis and Clark

324 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Exposition, will long be remembered. Secretary Von Ogden
Vogt attended this institute, and gave valuable help, much of
interest being added by the very efficient leaders of Christian
Endeavor in the great Northw^est.

About the same time New York, under the leadership of
the honored State secretary, Mr. John R. Clements, whose
mind is most fertile in such plans, held the first school for
district secretaries at Liberty. This was attended by many
of the secretaries of the Empire State, and was most useful
in equipping them for their important duties in their respec-
tive counties.

Another important institute was held in Maryland in the
same year, while the ten "Patriot Day Rallies" held in Massa-
chusetts on April 19, the anniversary of the battle of Lexing-
ton and the Concord fight, it has been well said, "might be
classed as civic educators."

It is not necessary to dwell longer upon the methods and
plans for stimulating the intellectual life of the young Chris-
tians. They are constantly being multiplied, and will doubt-
less increase as the years go by, for the Society realizes that it
is the whole man, body and mind as well as soul, which should
be trained for the Master's service.

One practical method of stimulating the intellectual life
which may be mentioned is the Christian Endeavor sympo-
sium which often appears in The Christian Endeavor World.
As an example of this, and also as showing the various angles
from which the young people look at the Society and estimate
its work, it is interesting to quote some definitions which were
printed in a prize contest for the best aphoristic definition of
Christian Endeavor in twenty-five words. Two hundred and
fifty Endeavorers sharpened their wits upon this problem.
Their exuberant fancy, as was said, "ranged over the whole
gamut of simile, alliteration, and acrostic description." Here
are a few of the 250 definitions, which are samples of many

Evangelistic Endeavor. 325

others, and which were all worthy of prizes, though they
could not all receive them.

"Christian Endeavor is interdenominationalism verified,
the baggage-car of Christian brotherhood, carrying packages
differently labelled, but not thereby destroying the unity of
the train."

"Christian Endeavor is the workshop where Jesus, the
carpenter's Son, sharpens the instruments which He uses in the
daily construction of His churches."

"Christian Endeavor is the mint where metals are coined
and stamped with the King's own likeness."

"Christian Endeavor is a schoolmaster aiming to bring
his scholars to perfect manhood and womanhood in Christ
Jesus."

"Christian Endeavor reaches upward with faith, reaches
forward with hope, and reaches outward with love."

"Christian Endeavor is the X-ray that brings to light the
hidden power of the young people in the church."

"As the Sunday-school is the recruiting-station, so the
Christian Endeavor society is the West Point of Christ's
army."

"Christian Endeavor

is a

Co-operative Exercise

Consecrated Enthusiasm

for

Creating Energy

toward
Christian Ends.

"Christian Endeavor is like an endless chain, it binds the
forces together, and makes them work in unison."

326 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

"Christian Endeavor is the practical recognition of the
young people's need of Christ and the church, and of the
church's need of the young people."

Christian Endeavor is the manual training-school of the
church, training

the lips to speak,
the feet to walk,
the hands to work,
FOR CHRIST.

"Christian Endeavor is the electric current from the bat-
tery of heaven, uniting in Christian love and enthusiastic serv-
ice the youth of all Christian denominations."

"Christian Endeavor is the youth's shortest possible cut
across the fields of experience to the kingdom of heaven."

"Like Jacob's shining ladder.
Uplifted strong and high,
Where deeds and prayers, like angels,
Pass 'twixt the earth and sky."

"Christian Endeavor is a school
Teaching us to trust and obey.
To read and to pray.
To serve Christ and the church in every way."

"A correct epitome of Christian Endeavor is
Constant Enthusiasm,
Consecrated Energy,
Consecrated Effort,
For 'Christ and the church.' "

"Christian Endeavor is a watch
Whose mainspring is love.
Whose movement is service.
Whose hands point to heavenly joys on the dial of eternity." ■

CHAPTER XXV.

EVANGELISTIC ENDEAVOR AT HOME
AND ABROAD.

WHEREIN IT IS SHOWN THAT THE SOCIETY HAS INTRO-
DUCED SOME NEW FEATURES OF EVANGELISM, AND
HAS DEVELOPED SOME EVANGELISTIC LEADERS AND
EVANGELISTIC METHODS IN CONNECTION WITH ITS
UNION MEETINGS AND GREAT CONVENTIONS.

" A Christian Endeavor society born in a revival has ad-
vantage every way over one organized under different spiritual
conditions. It commands better material at the start and a
more favorable opportunity for putting its principles into opera-
tion. It thus represents not exceptional but normal conditions,
and accordingly is able to demonstrate the utility, power, and
practical efficiency of the organization."

Rev. Dwizht M. Pratt, D.D.,
in " A Decade of Christian Endeavor."

EVANGELISM is entirely normal to Christian En-
|) deavor. It is its native air. Christian Endeavor
jl was born in the atmosphere of a revival, and it
has always flourished best in such an atmosphere.
But evangelism is a very large word. It
means many things, but always one thing. It means standing
on the street-corner and saying to the passers-by, "Come to
Jesus!" But it means more than that. It means going into
the slums to seek and to save that which was lost, but it also
means using every effort to bring to Christ the children of the
high-born and the well-to-do. The quieter methods of the
lookout committee and of the consecration-meeting are truly

2,^7

328 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

evangelistic methods, for they are imbued with the evangelis-
tic spirit.

Though evangelism, like charity, may begin at home, it
can not remain at home, for all missionary effort in the re-
motest parts of the world is really but a feature of evangelism,
and toward all these methods and forms of proclaiming the
gospel, the good news, the Christian Endeavor movement
could not but be hospitable; for "to do the work of an evan-
gelist" in its broadest sense has been from the beginning its
great purpose and mission.

The Christian Endeavor covenant pledge has been used
by many a minister and Christian worker as a distinct evangel-
istic agency. More than one pastor whom it has been the
writer's privilege to know, has constantly carried a supply of
these pledges in his pocket; and, whenever he has found a
young person inclined seriously to consider religious matters,
"almost persuaded," but perhaps not quite ready to make the
great decision, he has handed him one of these little cards wjth
the pledge upon it, and has said: "Are you willing to trust
in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, and are you willing to
try to do what He would have you do? If so, just sign your
name to this card, and put your purpose down in black and
white." This has seemed so reasonable and possible that
many a young person has then and there made the decision
which has proved the turning-point in all his life, and the
beginning of many years of Christian service.

But the Society has made special efforts, and
^^^^ developed new features in evangelism, which

Features ^ ^ .

in which should not be overlooked. Christian En-

Evangel= , t^ 1 • r 1 • •

ism. deavor Day, the anniversary of the society, is

specially an evangelistic day from two points of
view. It is a day when in a great many churches decisions
are called for in the Sunday-school and young people's meet-
ing, and when the boys and girls who have previously been in-

Evangelistic Endeavor. 329

structed and taught their duty are urged to declare themselves
on the side of Christ. It is also a day when contributions are
made in thousands of societies for the denominational mis-
sionary boards, and thus, more indirectly, but none the less
really, the work of evangelism is promoted by providing
means for the proclamation of the gospel in far-distant lands.
The use of Christian Endeavor Day as "Decision Day,"
especially for the boys and girls, is a somewhat recent sugges-

First Mothers' Society of Christian Endeavor, Topeka, Kansas.

tion of the United Society in America; but it has already been
heartily adopted by many churches. The way in which one
church* keeps Decision Day with system and vigor coupled
with rare good sense and spiritual zeal is described by Dr.
J. F. Cowan in The Christian Endeavor World.

"At the morning service a sermon is preached appro-
priate to the day and full of inspiration, by the pastor. At

* The Congregational church of Melrose, Mass., the Rev. Thomas Sims, D.D.,
pastor.

330 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

3.15 a union service of the Junior societies is held, with bright
speakers. At 5 p. m. a special Christian Endeavor service
is held in the auditorium. At 6.30 the Young People's meet-
ing is held as usual. At both the latter services cards con-
taining decision pledges (practically the first clause of the
pledge) are distributed. As many as feel ready to do so are
asked to sign the card and leave it in the pew. There have
always been some decisions, and what would otherwise have
been an unspeakably sad death was blessedly softened and
sweetened by the fact that the little girl who passed away
clasped in her hand the decision-card she had signed on En-
deavor Day."

The Sunday-evening after-meeting is another rare oppor-
tunity for evangelistic service, into which many pastors wisely
press their Endeavorers. Dr. Charles M. Sheldon, as has been
before stated, advocates making this the great young people's
evangelistic service of the week for the actual bringing of men
to a decision for Christ, and in his own experience has proved
the vast usefulness of such a plan.

The First Baptist Church of Chicago has
Evangelistic been another leader in this line of Christian En-
deavor evangelistic effort. Under the lead of the
pastor. Dr. Austin K. de Blois, and Mr. H. H. Van Meter,
who is also the evangelistic superintendent of the Chicago
Christian Endeavor Union, a Christian Endeavor evangelistic
covenant has been drawn up, which many members have signed,
promising prayerfully to co-operate with the pastor in evan-
gelistic effort, to invite unconverted friends and acquaintances
to the services and welcome them when they come, to attend
the regular preaching-services and after-meetings unless ab-
solutely prevented, to request at least one visitor to remain to
each after-meeting, and to endeavor to lead at least one person
each month to the Savior. Many of the members signed this
covenant, with the result that the numbers at the Sabbath-
evening services have been more than doubled and the after-

Evangelistic Endeavor. 331

meetings greatly increased in attendance and interest, and
many conversions have followed.

Those that feel that they cannot take the whole of the
covenant blot out the parts which they cannot conscientiously
sign, and keep the rest. One young man, whose circum-
stances prevented him from observing some parts of this
pledge, kept it in spirit most effectively by having hotel-guest
cards printed, inviting the guests of every large hotel in Chi-
cago to attend the church services. Every Saturday night at
midnight he fastens them to the complete church programme
for the following Sabbath, and leaves them himself upon the
hotel counters to invite the visitors to attend the services.

This hotel visitation and invitation is undertaken by a
great many unions, as well as individual societies; and church
directories in hotel corridors and neatly printed invitations
that hotel guests find in their boxes on Sunday morning are
often the result of these evangelistic efforts.

Many unions have deemed it one of their chief duties to
promote the evangelistic spirit in other ways and actually to
do large evangelistic service. The uniting of all the younger
evangelical forces of the city in a Christian Endeavor union,
or at least the uniting of a very large majority of them, makes

this a peculiarly fitting and appropriate duty.
Efforts '^ ''^ The Brooklyn Union, under the lead of its

Unions president, Mr. W. R. Hassel, has been particularly
active and successful in this work. Pastors of all
denominations have co-operated, and great evangelistic meet-
ings have resulted. Of late a special school for evangelistic
instruction in the art of soul-winning has been conducted un-
der an expert leader, from which in the future splendid re-
sults will doubtless flow.

The Chicago Endeavorers' evangelistic campaign has
been most fruitful, and not without its humorous side, as re-
lated by Mr. H. H. Van Meter, the superintendent.

332 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

"Frequently we received a 'bouquet', generally of stale
vegetables, never flowers. It is our invariable rule never to
take up a collection, but, then, we received many. Mostly
mud and stones, but once upon a time a sharpshooter plugged
a cornet with a potato.

"The cornetist was a University of Chicago boy, who of
course knows a good deal (as we all do). But nobody knows
what would have become of his nose if he had not caught that
potato in his cornet.

"On that same occasion one of our sweetest girls got very
indignant because of a lemonade shower-bath. A 'real nice
young man' had volunteered to stand by her side, and he 'was
singing beautifully.' But somebody above drenched them
both with lemonade, spoiling his suit and her 'new shirt-waist.'

"When we told her it would wash off, she refused to be
comforted; but, when I said very emphatically, 'It is seldom
we are treated to lemonade at an open-air meeting, and I'm
glad we didn't get the pitcher,' she replied, 'O, so am I ; O my!
Omy!'"

Mr. Van Meter goes on to tell how opposition by the mob
was followed by the opposition of the priests, and that by op-
position from the police, who, in spite of the permit for such
services, received from the proper authorities, did everything
they could to annoy and break up the meetings. At one time
the patrol-wagon was rung up, and the Endeavorers took a
ride in it to the police-station, knowing that their case was per-
fectly good, and that they would be immediately discharged.
This discharge the chief of course at once granted upon seeing

their permit. "Then," said Mr. Van Meter, "the
"Hmnor." t)oys made the old Harrison Street police-station

ring as never before."

"The big horns and the trombones, the bass drum and the
snare-drum, did their best. It was about the best surprise-
party ever perpetrated upon the police. Everybody enjoyed
it, even the prisoners, as well as the police ; then we 'moved on.'

"When we reached the street, there stood the crowd, still

Evang:elistic Endeavor.

333

334 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

waiting for 'more music' But the firemen next door insisted
that they should have their share. They said they would fix
the telephones so that the music would reach every engine-
house in Chicago.

"That invitation told; so the band formed a semicircle
around the receiver. After playing a few gospel airs we sang
At the Cross.' In conclusion we prayed for the police and
the firemen, 'who face danger and death for us.' Every hat
went off; every head was bowed; then we said good-by, and
were gone. They called out, 'Come again,' and we answered
that we would; and we will most surely."

A protest to the chief of police made his subordinates fear
to disturb the meetings any further, and the outside difficulties,
at least, of the Chicago Endeavorers are now largely things of
the past.

An Intermediate Christian Endeavor evanee-

Evangelistic listic cruisc is another of the bright ideas for which
Chicago Endeavorers are responsible. Starting
from their home city in a gasoline launch copiously decorated
with Christian Endeavor banners and mottoes, with a power-
ful searchlight at the prow, they turned, unheralded, into the
old Illinois and Michigan Canal, which is so seldom navigated
now that the appearance of their boat with its flags and
streamers, we are told, "astonished the natives." At every
lock, while they were waiting for the water to rise, a little
meeting would be held for the small company of loungers that
gathered together. Jails and poorhouses were visited on the
way; tracts were distributed and many personal invitations
given. After two or three days of such pleasant journeying
they reached their destination at Starved Rock, and pitched
their tents, and enjoyed a few days of camping out. Then they
returned homeward by another route, visiting other jails and
poorhouses, holding open-air services in many towns, and
bringing the gospel to the very homes and hearts of those who
had not heard it for many years. While this was called an

Evangelistic Endeavor. 335

"Intermediate Cruise," and while there were boys and girls in
the party, there were also, of course, experienced men and
women to guide them and lead in the evangelism.

No one has done more to awaken the spirit of evangelism
among Endeavorers than Mr. William Phillips Hall, the
eminent business men's evangelist, who has often spoken at
the conventions with great acceptance.

The great conventions naturally furnish the largest op-

Men's Meeting During Convention at Washington, D. C.

portunity for evangelistic efifort, and this is thoroughly im-
proved. Careful plans are always made to reach the largest
number of people in all parts of the city where the convention
is held. The scope of these evangelistic services may be
gathered from the fact that in one convention they were held
in fifty-five different places. The list includes three piano-
factories, three wood-working establishments, an organ-fac-
tory, a bookbindery, carriage-works, a bank-note company, a
clothing-house, a rubber-store, a screw-factory, a coal-yard, a
printing-house, three laundries, a dry-goods store, a market-

336 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

house, the Chamber of Commerce, the Homoeopathic Hospi-
tal, the Lend-a-Hand Hospital, a liquor-saloon, a fire-engine
station, the city jail, a man-of-war in the harbor, seven res-
,. ^. cue missions, fourteen open-air meetings, four

Evangelistic ' _ ^ .

Services wharves, and a service held at the request of a sick
Great girl on the pavement before her window.

Conventions. jvg-^ fewer than 1 20 evangelistic meetings,

according to definite reports, were held by delegates in
these different places. Twenty thousand persons were
spoken to, and nearly six thousand delegates to the conven-
tion assisted in the services, while several hundred persons
expressed a desire to become Christians.

At these conventions the most eminent evangelists in the
world have frequently spoken. Men like Dwight L. Moody,
the Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, D. D., the Rev. John McNeill,
Gipsy Smith, the Rev. George F. Pentecost, D. D., the Rev.
William E. Biederwolf, Dr. W. H. Hallenbeck, and others
of their character have often taken part. In connection
with the conventions hotel evangelistic meetings have fre-
quently been held. The writer especially remembers one
held in the court of the great Palace Hotel of San Francisco.
Many Endeavorers were stopping there, and after the even-
ing service in the halls they gathered in the courtyard, all the
other guests being attracted by the music of some of the best
soloists. Then, one after another, some of the most eminent
ministers of half a dozen different denominations told the
simple story of their conversion, while fashionable guests,
merchant princes, and eminent politicians, among them the
Democratic candidate for the presidency in the campaign
that was then on, looked from the balconies, or stood under
the courtyard palms.

Such meetings, so far as the writer has observed, have
never been resented or objected to by hotel proprietors or
guests, nor have they seemed intrusive. In fact, they are so

Evangelistic Endeavor. 337

sane and natural, and the convention makes religion so ex-
pected and matter-of-course a topic of conversation, that it
would seem unnatural, were such meetings not held.

One of the most remarkable evangelistic meetings ever
held under Christian Endeavor auspices was the men's meet-
ing in the Armory in Baltimore, where on an intensely hot
^Sunday afternoon five or six thousand men came together.
Addresses of great power were made by Mr. Stelzle and Mr.
Biederwolf ; and then, says the report,

"came an intense appeal for men to show by
A Scene rising that they would enter the Christian life and
Baltimore. ^^^^ ^^^Y wanted the prayers of Christians. One

man rose, another, several in different places.
They remained standing but a few moments, but there was a
steady succession until scores would be on their feet at once
in all parts of the hall. Mr. F. H. Jacobs uttered in song a
tender and appealing prayer. The evangelist, standing on a
table to gain a more commanding position, put all his energy
into a last appeal to do the right and manly thing, and then
asked all who had risen to come forward and stand while
prayer was offered for them. Hundreds of hands also went
up from those that wished prayers to be offered for friends.
Christian workers had been supplied with cards that were
circulated for signature by those that had decided for Christ.
Meantime, Mr. Biederwolf and others were passing around,
grasping the hands of those that had taken the stand, between
three and four hundred in all, many of whom were deeply
moved and in tears. As the great crowd gradually passed
out from this wonderfully blessed meeting, the choir softly
sang, 'God be with you till we meet again.' "

The missionary side of Christian Endeavor evangelism
is too large a theme to enter upon in this chapter. In the
sections of the book devoted to missionary lands this feature
will be brought out. It is sufficient here to say that from the
very beginning the Endeavor societies have made missionary
22

338

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

work and missionary giving one of the chief features of their
organization. It has been found, so far as can be estimated,
that about 250,000 Endeavorers every year join the evan-
gelical churches of the world, the result, in part, at least, of
personal Christian Endeavor evangelism. It is also found,
even from the meagre statistics which can be obtained from
the fraction of societies that report that these give away nearly
one million dollars every year, about half of which goes for

Raw Material for Christian Endeavor in Africa.

the evangelization of the world through the denominational
missionary organizations.

Many a unique missionary effort has been undertaken by
Christian Endeavorers, a sample of which is furnished by the

Evangelistic Endeavor.

339

steamer Endeavour built by the Baptist Christian Endeavor-
^„ ers of England, at an expense of $25,000, for use by

stTamer^^''' ^^^ mission on the Congo. It was built and dedi-
for the cated at Oxford. It is a large stern-wheel steamer
''"^*'* built entirely of steel, with machinery of spe-

cial design, and is furnished with cabins for the native crew

MoNASTiR, Turkey,
The Home of Four Christian Endeavor Societie:^

and native passengers, while the top cabins are for the officers
and white passengers. The steamer's flag, the gift of the
Oxford Endeavorers, is a pennant some seven feet long with
"Endeavour" in large white letters on a ground of indigo
blue. The boat was taken to pieces, and conveyed to Matadi,
at the mouth of the Congo. Thence it was transported a
thousand miles up the river by the railway to Stanley Pool.

340 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

There it was put together, and navigates a thousand miles of
river from Stanley Pool to Stanley Falls.

It is impossible in this chapter to give even the briefest
survey of the evangelistic efforts of Endeavorers at home and
abroad. The writer has chosen simply a few samples of such
efforts from a multitude that might be recorded ; but enough
has been written, perhaps, to show not only the spirit and pur-
pose of the Society, but its possibilities in promoting the great
object of the church — the bringing of the world to Christ.

CHAPTER XXVI.
THE SOCIETY AS A DEMOCRACY.

DESCRIBING HOW THE DEMOCRATIC BUSINESS WAYS
AND MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS OF THE SOCIETY
ARE FOREVER OPPOSED TO THE SNOBBISHNESS OF
WEALTH OR EDUCATION OR CASTE OF ANY KIND.

" Christian Endeavor does not ask a man whether he lives
in Africa, in India, China, or America. It does not ask him
u'hether he be clothed with a black skin, a white, a tawny, or
a red one. Christian Endeavor stands first, last, and always
for the salvation of man." Rev. PFillis R. Hotchkiss,

Africa.

;NE of the great providential purposes of the
Christian Endeavor movement as shown by its
history is to promote the spirit of democracy
among its members. Far more important is this
than it would seem at first blush. If there is
anything grievous to Christ and foreign to the true idea of
His church, it is the spirit of exclusive caste which sets one
group of Christians off by themselves, while their poorer or
more ignorant fellow Christians must take the lowest seats in
the synagogue, or perhaps worship in some entirely separate
sanctuary.

This hateful spirit of caste is as old as St. James, who
inveighed in righteous indignation against the special de-
ference paid to the man with the gold ring and goodly ap-
parel, and against those who say to the wearer of the gay
clothing, "Sit thou here in a good place, and say to the poor,
Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool,"

341

342 Christian Endeavor in All Landso

Protestantism in some respects is peculiarly liable to this
curse. In the Roman Catholic and Greek churches the rich
and the poor meet together in one great sanctuary, the beggar
kneels side by side with the millionaire, and rags jostle silks
and laces in the same crowded aisle.

In Mohammedan mosques and some heathen temples
even the rich and the poor meet together, even if they do not
realize that the "Lord is the maker of them all."

But in Protestant lands there are often churches for the
rich and churches for the poor; and, when the two classes are
brought together in a common church-membership, the
chapel on the dismal back street is sometimes thought good
enough for the working classes.

It cannot be that this is in accordance with the spirit
of Christ, and any organization that directly or indirectly,
unconsciously or of set purpose, does anything to bring the
different members of Christ's family together on a footing of
friendship and common interest is worthy of consideration.

From the beginning the Christian Endeavor movement
has found itself used of God, without any special purpose or
design of its own, as a uniter, a link and bond of fellowship
between people who might otherwise be estranged.

In all this the hand of God is seen in a most
EndeaATor signal way. Starting in one church, with one lit-
ulTiter ^^^ company of young people. Christian Endeavor

has united the hearts of millions of young people
in tens of thousands of churches in a hundred denominations.
Starting in an obscure corner of the nation, it has united in
fellowship and sympathy young people in sixty nations and
great colonies.

But it has had a no less important, though a less con-
spicuous, task to perform, in bringing together the young
people of the different classes of society and of different social
ranks.

The Society as a Democracy,

343

Cl,

fL,

c c

CL,

344 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Alas! it has not thoroughly accomplished this task.
Much remains to be done, and always will remain while such
distinctions exist in the Christian church ; but the trend and
tendency of the Society is all in the direction of democracy
and the heartiest good fellowship.

An eminent worker* in the ranks of American Christian
Endeavorers has made the important point that it is even
more necessary to teach Christian people to work ivith one
another than for one another. It is a comparatively easy
thing to go "slumming," at least until the novelty wears ofif.
There is a pleasing excitement about it, and a smug sense of
satisfaction which envelops the "slummer" in an atmosphere
of self-congratulation. But it is a far dififefent and a far
more Christlike thing actually to work with those of a lower
station in life; not making them feel that they are being pat-
ronized or taught, or that an example is being set for their
behavior, but that, as Christian brother with Christian
brother, or as sister v/ith sister, work is being done together
for the one Father in heaven, and under the eyes of the com-
mon elder brother. It is just this kind of co-operation and
common service that is promoted by every department of the
Christian Endeavor Society.

In the meetings all come together. The testimony and
participation of one are required as much as those of another.
The Scripture passage, or the prayer, or the testimony of the
poorest and youngest is as acceptable as that of the richest and
oldest.

On the committees, too, since all in a well-regulated society
must be placed on some committee, young people of different
social grades and from homes of different degrees of culture
must necessarily work together. Ability is very likely to
come to the front, and ability often wears a threadbare coat,
and has few early advantages.

* Treasurer William Shaw.

The Society as a Democracy. 345

The business of the society, too, is conducted

Democratic , j i ■>

Business in a democratic way, the members choosing their
^^^' own officers, making their own appropriations, and

largely directing their own affairs, subject, of course, only to
the veto power of church and pastor. Thus not only do they
learn invaluable lessons of self-reliance in the conduct of af-
fairs; but the spirit of democracy is inculcated, the spirit of
the New England town-meeting, on which the liberties of
America rest. The same spirit, it may be remarked, actuates
a constitutional monarchy as well as a republic where the
people manage their own local concerns.

Many and beautiful are the illustrations of the way in
which this spirit of Christlike democracy has been exhibited
in the society. One of the wealthiest and most famous young
women in America, it is said, is accustomed to attend the
Christian Endeavor meetings in the little church near her
country home, and take her simple part with the neighbors'
boys and girls and the young men and women of the village,
striving as simply and unostentatiously as any of them to do
what Christ would have her do.

In a New England town a young lady whose wealth is
counted by millions is always found at the Christian Endeavor
prayer-meeting. She is put upon the committees as regu-
larly as any of the members. Her committee often meets in
her elegant home; but she never attempts to dominate the
others or to have her own way, but simply works with them
as one of the obscurest members would do, and takes her
share of the burdens and responsibilities as well as the honors
of office. This, after all, is what counts in a free country.
The factory hand, the shop-girl, the clerk, the farm-hand, do
not care to be patronized. They would naturally and rightly
resent it, but they do want companionship, sympathy, the help
of a friendly heart, and to have the privilege of giving as well
as receiving help.

346 Christian Endeavor in All Lands,

There is also a snobbish aristocracy of education, which
one often sees, which is just as ofifensive and more indefensible
than the snobbishness of wealth, for the educated man ought
to know better.

How often we see the college man draw away
Snobbish= from his less educated mates, and leave the work
Edu^ca/ion °^ ^^^ church, in which he might be doubly effi-
cient, altogether to those who have had no such
advantages as he! Many pastors have complained bitterly
of the influence of modern college life upon their young
men and women, saying that they are of no further use in the
church after they have once gone away to college. This is of
course an exaggeration, for many are not thus afifected; but
there is altogether too much truth in it, and the root of the
evil is simply the loss of the Christlike spirit of democracy.
The greater the opportunities and privileges, the greater the
responsibilities for service. The man who hides away ten
talents in a napkin will be condemned more severely than the
one who hides but one.

It must not be supposed, however, that men of real edu-
cation have failed to work heartily and harmoniously with the
young people of the Christian Endeavor societies. A multi-
tude of leaders, both in local unions and in local societies all
over America, are college-bred men and women who find
inspiration in the simple testimonies of their younger broth-
ers and sisters, in the songs and prayers of the weekly meet-
ings, and find in the work of the committees a real help to
their own spiritual life and a splendid opportunity for service.

That the testimony and expressions of religious life given
by these young Christians, though often crude, are uninterest-
ing and unprofitable is denied by every one who enters into
their life sympathetically. The writer has seen the most emi-
nent doctors of divinity in the country, and the most
distinguished pulpit orators, listen with tears of joy to the tes-

The Society as a Democracy.

347

timonies of the young Christians in a convention consecration-
meeting; and, as he has knelt at the- same seat with one of the
most distinguished of our college presidents, he has felt the
settee throb with the scarcely controlled emotion of his com-
panion, who was following the prayers of some of his youngest
and least educated fellow Endeavorers as they prayed for
God's blessing and the outpouring of His Spirit.

JBk. m.

■— ■ -^ *■ *"°# • i-

V'-Sr-^i f ^ ■ ., ■ ,' -' : - • :■ • .. •♦'4i A j.>i -^ i.i'^f o

t:^^' ' ^^y 1«; rvf f' v- ^^M.%,^* 4^

English, Irish, and Scotch Christian Endeavor Convention Picnic at Loch Fyne,

Scotland.

The conventions, as is natural, have this to their credit,
that they bring together the young people in the most friendly
and familiar Christian intercourse. One can hardly take a
week's journey with another on train or steamer without be-
coming interested in him, and looking at matters somewhat
from his point of view. One cannot sit side by side with his
fellows In a great congregation, having his soul uplifted with
the same emotions, his heart going out in the same prayers,
and his voice joining in the same hymns of praise, without

348 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

coming to feel a genuine sympathy and fellowship with him.

In the British conventions the delegates are

Democratic gf^^^^ houscd in improvised hostels, established in

Hostels ^ '

at schoolrooms or vestries of churches, and these

Convention, , __.

are magnificent promoters of democracy. When
twenty cots are set up side by side in one room; when at
the common table in picnic style the delegates eat to-
gether day after day; when they have their morning and
evening devotions together, and come and go to the meet-
ings side by side; the spirit of caste, if it existed before, is
likely to get its death-blow.

The excursions and picnics and swimming-matches and
out-of-door games, which often form recreational features of
the convention, bring together young people, not only from
different sections and different denominations, but from all
walks of life as well, thus unconsciously fulfilling one of the
chief functions of Christian Endeavor.

In the local society the social gathering is the

Democratic ^ r uu* 1 j

Social great enemy of snobbishness and conscious superi-

Gatherings. Qj-^ty. The plans for Christian Endeavor sociables
are almost innumerable, and three very considerable volumes
of about 150 pages each have been published by the United
Society in America, giving a great variety of social gather-
ings, each one of which, if entered into heartily, would sound
I the knell of stifif formality and exclusiveness. It is manifestly
impossible in such a volume as this to tell in detail of these
social gatherings, or to outline their bright plans; but as a
mere example of what may be done it is worth while to record
a very few samples of "socials" from among the thousand
which have been successfully used in Christian Endeavor so-
cieties, and which have helped to bring the young people
nearer to each other.

"A post-office social, in which each writes a serious or
humorous letter to some other member of the society, signing
his name.

The Society as a Democracy.

349

"A botanical social, with contests in the identification of
common plants, and with a microscope exhibition and talk.

"A great phonograph social, with an explanation of the
machine, and with illustrations from previously prepared rec-
ords and from impromptus.

"A hodge-podge social, in which each member is called
upon by lot to lead in one game of his own choice.

"A spelling-school, the words to be spelled backwards.

"A puzzle evening, puzzles being placed on small tables
and groups of the Endeavorers being sent from table to table
at the tap of a bell.

A Bit of the Last Welsh Christian Endeavor Convention.

"A recent-events evening, with bright accounts of the
leading features of recent history."

One of the earliest charges against the Society was that
it brought the sexes together too frequently in social life, and
a standing joke which deserved long ago to be buried under
the spreading chestnut-tree was that C. E. stood for "Courting
Endeavor," not for Christian Endeavor. But, as many or-

350 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

ganizations have turned their reproaches and their gibes into
badges of honor and distinction, so this free social

Free ° '

Intercourse intercourse between the young men and women has
the^ come to be one of the glories of the Christian

Sexes. Endeavor movement. It has been seen to make

for purity and modesty, as well as for unconstrained geni-
ality, and has resulted in many happy companionships, and
finally in many delightful homes, so that along all the differ-
ent avenues of social life the Society has aimed to promote
naturalness, sanity, freedom from oppressive conventionality,
and the genuine Christlike spirit. This whole matter of
social democracy among young Christians has been so well
put by another* that I cannot do better than to end this chap-
ter with his words.

"What is it to be social? It is to appreciate the mean-
ing of life. It is to realize that we are set here in this world,
not for houses, lands, gold, silks, praise, authority, fame, but
for character. It is to put first the kingdom of God, and His
righteousness.

"Gold separates men. They sneak ofif, each to his own
gulch, jealous lest some one else should pre-empt a valuable
claim before he does. Ambition separates men. My brother
and I cannot both hold the office at the same time, and there-
fore— well, 'Heaven helps him that helps himself.' (Some
think that is in the Bible.) Spite of trusts and combines, of
clubs and cliques, the god of this world is a god of division, of
isolation, and it is only as men get into their souls the love of
God and the thought of His eternity and theirs that perma-
nently and truly they draw nigh to one another.

"The spirit of snobbishness will kill the socials of any
society. Christ would not be admitted to-day into certain cir-
cles of so-called Christians, if He came in the working clothes
of a carpenter. Good socials must be democratic, and the
washerwoman's daughter and ashman's son must be made to
feel as much at home as the daughter of Senator Biggun or the

* Amos R. Wells, in " Social to Save."

The Society as a Democracy. 351

son of General Moneybags. Egotism, the feeling that you
are better than other people, either on account of a better-filled
purse, or because of a better-filled head, or because of some
other gift of fortune or industry, will destroy any social. Put
in place of this contemptible spirit the humble acknowledg-
ment of sinfulness and unworthiness, and the glad perception
that all for whom Christ died are brothers and sisters in Him,
and you will have, you cannot help having, successful socials.
I do not much care what games you play, or whether you play
at all, what refreshments you serve, or whether you let the
overburdened stomach alone and serve none at all, sociability
does not consist in forms and trappings, but in the spirit. For-
get yourselves, remember Christ, seek to win friends for Him,
that is my recipe for a good social. Forget yourselves, re-
member Christ, seek to win friends for Him."

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE NEW AND THE OLD IN CHRISTIAN EN-
DEAVOR.

HOW THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR MOVEMENT HAS PUT
A NEW MEANING INTO SOME OLD WORDS AND A NEW
EMPHASIS UPON OTHERS; AND HOW IT HAS EMBODIED
THE IDEAS OF DEVOTION, PROPORTIONATE AND SYS-
TEMATIC GIVING, AND CIVIC RIGHTEOUSNESS.

" Christian Endeavor is planting a new phrase in the lan-
guages of the world. At our second All-India Christian En-
deavor Convention at Allahabad it was unanimously and
enthusiastically adopted that 'Christian Endeavor' be accepted
as the one name, untranslated, in every language and dialect
in all India, Burma, and Ceylon. Thus the words that mean
so much to us in our tongue at home are now in many tongues."

Rev. G. L. Wharton, India.

" It seems to me that in the very inception of this movement
the thought that inspired it, the thought that gave it name, was
happy and blest. I know of no two words in the English
language that are more freighted with deep significance. I
know of no title that you could have chosen that would be
more heavily weighted with blessing and divine inspiration
than these two words."

Governor Roger Wolcott, of Massachusetts.

HE new and the old in Christian Endeavor are in-
extricably intertwined. In one sense it is all
new, in another sense it contains nothing new.
It has brought new names into the dictionary,
but these names are often the signs of old ideas.
On the other hand, it has taken words as old as the English
language and put a new meaning into them, or at least a new

352

The New and the Old. 353

emphasis, and has given them such currency as they have
never had before.

One of these words is found in the very name of the So-
ciety and its members, "Endeavor," "Endeavorer." The
"Standard Dictionary," after describing the Society, defines
"Endeavorer" as "one who endeavors, or strives to do some-
thing; specifically, a member of the Young People's Society
of Christian Endeavor." This word, it is not too much to
say, is used fifty times to-day where it was used once a quar-
ter of a century ago. It is often capitalized to-day, whereas
then it was written with a small initial; and this increased
emphasis upon the word indicates the increased emphasis
which the Society has put upon the thing for which the word
stands.

The writer has frequently been asked how the Society
came to be called by this name, where the original sugges-
tion came from; and he has to confess that he does not know.
He has learned of late years that there was once a church in
Brooklyn, started, if I mistake not, by the Rev. Edward Eg-
gleston, called the "Church of Christian Endeavor." I have
since learned, too, that there was a society among the deaf
mutes of an institution in Lawrence thirty years ago, called
"The Society of Christian Endeavor." It may have been that
this name, either from the church or from the deaf-mute
asylum, was seen by the author, and filtered into his mind
without his knowing it; and, when the time came for naming
the new society, some subconscious act may have recalled the
name he had heard before. It would be interesting if it
could be proved that a society in a deaf-mute asylum sug-
gested the name to the movement whose members take audi-
ble part in every meeting.
hackneyed Howcvcr this may be, the name has doubtless

had not a little to do with the success of the So-
ciety. It was unhackneyed, and suggested fresh, vigorous,

354 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

strenuous life, the very life that is suited to young Chris-
tians. It has been found a difficult name, to be sure, to
translate into other tongues; but, though several unsuccess-
ful attempts have often been made on the introduction of
the Society into a foreign country to translate the name, the
members have after a time settled down on a nomenclature
satisfactory to all.

The greatest difficulties of translation have naturally
occurred in Oriental languages, especially the Chinese,
where, as is often recalled, the original name of the society
as given in the Fukien province, the first district in China to
accept Christian Endeavor, was "The Drum-Around-and-
Rouse-Up Society," by no means an inappropriate, though a
cumbrous, name. In the Cantonese dialect it was called by
the circumlocution, the ''Urge-on-in-the-Service-of-Salva-
tion's-Lord Society."

Since the English word "endeavor" comes from the two
French words en devoir, it would seem to be easy to put it
back again into French; but this has not proved to be the case,
and the somewhat less meaningful phrase, "Society of Chris-
tian Activity," has been adopted in French-speaking lands.

There are other phrases and words which the Christian
Endeavor societies have so thoroughly adopted as their own
that they almost seem to have originated them. They have
certainly originated the combinations in which they are used
to-day. For instance, "lookout committee" finds a place in
the "Standard Dictionary," and is defined as "a committee in
the Society of Christian Endeavor, whose duties are to bring
in new members, to introduce them to the work, etc." So
with various other committees, "social committee," "prayer-
meeting committee," "calling committee," "missionary com-
mittee," "sunshine committee," these are all old words, but in
their combination and accepted use to-day have been given an
entirely new and a very definite meaning.

The New and the Old. 355

The word "interdenominational" was heard but seldom,
lnter= ^^ ever, a quarter of a century ago. We used the

denom= words "denominational" and "undenominational"
frequently enough ; but interdenominationalism had
scarcely been born, and there was little need to name it.
Now "interdenominational" is as common and well under-
stood as "undenominational," and stands for as definite and
important a feature of religious life. n

The words "consecration" and "consecration-meeting,"
too, have had a volume of new meaning put into them by the
Christian Endeavor movement. "Consecration" stands not
for some mystical emotion, and not only for the renunciation
of self and the making sacred of one's time and money and
ability to God, though of course the word must always con-'
tain this, but it stands also for the outspoken devotion of the
young person to the Lord Jesus Christ at the monthly meet-
ing; it stands for a renewal of the vows made by every En-
deavorer when he joins the society, and a renewal of the ex-
pression of his allegiance to his God.

There are other phrases that have come in the wake of
Christian Endeavor, which are no less telling and self-descrip-
tive. What, for instance, could so well describe Christian
Endeavor work among the sailors as "Floating societies"?
What two words could tell more of a society among the sol-
diers than "Barrack society"?

This is an appropriate place, also, to speak of the sub-
sidiary organizations which have clustered around the Chris-
tian Endeavor movement. Some one has happily compared
them to the beautiful chapels that surround a great cathedral.
They add to its value, its utility, and its beauty
iary without detracting from the main edifice. Some

tions"'^^^ worshippers find help and comfort in one chapel,
and some in another; and, while none are com-
pelled to kneel in any one of them, they are often filled with

356 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

devotees, who are also the worshippers in the main cathedral
itself.

Oftentimes have I been through the great cathedrals of
Europe, and have thought at first that they were quite empty
and destitute of worshippers, but in some side aisle, or behind
the altar, I have come across a company of devout Christians,
who have found in the altar or the saint to whom the chapel
was dedicated something that especially fitted their religious
needs. That which we sturdy children of the Reformation
may regard as born of superstitious ignorance finds a counter-
part which no Protestant can object to, in the dififerent activi-
ties which earnest Christians find for themselves, according to
their age, their abilities and circumstances.

Around the Christian Endeavor cathedral have grouped
themselves the Quiet Hour chapel, the Tenth Legion chapel,
the Macedonian Phalanx chapel, the Home Circle, and the
Rural Christian Endeavor chapels. Though learned pro-
fessors may ascribe these to "the oath craze," those who care-
fully study the history of the Society, and practically enter
into its life, find them as inevitable and necessary as the So-
ciety itself. If they are not needed and do not fill a need
of human nature, they will soon fall into disuse, and they will
be used more or less according to their real value in meeting
the needs of the times.

Among these auxiliaries of the Christian En-

The ^

Quiet deavor movement none have met a felt need of

the time perhaps so much as "the Quiet Hour."
Something like ten years ago it was forced upon the atten-
tion of the writer, especially as he studied the great conven-
tions, that there was an element lacking which might be
supplied. The Christian Endeavorers were full of vivacity,
activity, and genuine devotion. Their meetings did not lack
enthusiasm, and their consecration-meetings were full of so-
lemnity and genuine spiritual power; but it seemed to him that

The New and the Old. 357

too little time was given to reflection, meditation, and com-
munion with God. In order to support the vast amount of
doings there must be more and more being behind it. Ac-
tivities must spring from heart devotion, and, to cultivate
this, time must be rigorously set apart. The larger the activ-
ities, the greater the need for these periods of devotion.

The Keswick movement and other such efiforts for the
deepening of the spiritual life have conclusively shown how,
when well guarded and not allowed to run into fanaticism,
the most useful philanthropies and the largest activities flow
from the deepest spiritual springs. So it was proposed that
those who wished should band themselves together in a purely
voluntary organization called "the Comrades of the Quiet
Hour." The name was chosen rather than the similar name
of "The Morning Watch" in order to give the utmost freedom
as to the time which should be devoted to meditation and
personal communion with God, though the morning hour was
strongly recommended.

Those who became "comrades" agreed to spend fif-
teen minutes a day not merely in Bible-reading and pe-
tition, but in genuine personal communion with the Un-
seen. As soon as proposed, the idea attracted the attention
of a great multitude of young people, and testimonies
began to pour in from all directions, of the exceeding value
of a "Quiet Hour" in personal experience. Lives were
brightened. Christian hope revived, assurance of salvation
made doubly sure, because the Comrades had learned the se-
cret of personal communion by actually practising it. Quiet
Hour literature began to abound; "Quiet Hours" led by some
of the most eminent Christians* in the land began to be
held in connection with the conventions both State and na-
tional. Now more than 40,000 have been definitely enrolled

* Dr. Floyd W. Tomkins, President H. C. King, the Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman,
D.D., Mr. William R. Moody and many others.

358 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

as "Comrades" in different lands, and probably many times
that number have been affected and influenced by the thought,
and have learned the secret of meditation, which is no longer
"a lost art" among a multitude of Christian youth.

Another instance in w^hich an old name has

The r- I 1 • 1 • • r 1 • 1

Tenth been filled with a new meanmg is found in the

egion. "Tenth Legion." The name of Caesar's picked
troops, upon which he could always rely, was given origi-
nally by the New York City Union to a tithe-givers' league,
which was at first but local in its work and application. But
what was good for New York was good for the rest of the
Union; and the suggestion, originally made by Mr. W. L.
Amerman in the year 1897, ^^^ adopted by the American
United Society, which at once commenced to promote the
"Tenth Legion" on a larger scale. Many thousands have en-
rolled themselves under this banner, or, to refer to a former
figure, have found help and comfort in this chapel of the
Christian Endeavor cathedral, and multitudes of young peo-
ple, when "the Tenth Legion" is now spoken of, think not
of Caesar's blood-stained troops, but of Christ's army of young
people who have resolved to devote one-tenth of their income,
be it large or small, to the cause which fights against the hosts
of sin throughout the world.

"The Macedonian Phalanx" may seem to some a fanci-
ful name, but it stands for an attempt to meet a real need in
a natural way; and, when one thinks of it, no name could be
more appropriate than the "Macedonian Phalanx," proposed
first by Professor Amos R. Wells, to designate this
Ma*cedo= effort of the Christian Endeavor Society to answer
Phrianx. ^^^ ^^^ ^^y^ which is Still repeated after 1900 years,
"Come over into Macedonia and help us!" It was
felt, and most naturally, that many young people would be
far more interested in giving their money for the support of
a definite missionary, native preacher, teacher, Bible woman.

The New and the Old. 359

or other Christian worker, or a student preparing for Chris-
tian work, or for some definite and distinct part of mission
work, as a hospital, free hospital bed, mission-boat-building,
church-planting, Sunday-school, and the like, than to put
their money into some great treasury that swallowed up hun-
dreds of thousands of other dollars without telling them just
what their money was used for. So any individual or society
that gives at least twenty dollars a year for mission work,
through its own denomination, and desires to have it devoted
to some special purpose of this sort, can belong to the Mace-
donian Phalanx.

Many, to be sure, who really belong to "the Macedonian
Phalanx" have not thought it necessary to enroll their names;
but it has given a great stimulus to the idea of personal, defi-
nite missionary work, — the idea of working twenty-four hours
a day for the Master, twelve hours in one's own home land
while about one's every-day occupations, and twelve hours
through the substitute on the opposite side of the globe. This
idea is adopted by many missionary societies in the so-called
"Forward Movements" of the day, and has proved a great
blessing, not only to the mission cause, but to the givers at
home, in linking them definitely with the work and workers
^ who otherwise might seem so hazy and far away.

Civic The "Civic Club" is an organization which

will be described more at length in the chapter on
Good Citizenship Endeavors, but is another of the adjuncts
of the Society, which might well be made of larger use than
it ever has been.

The "Home Circle" is an effort proposed by the Presi-
dent of the United Society at the convention in Nashville in
the interests of home religion and family worship. As has
been said,

"There are tens of thousands of families now, where one
or both of the heads of the household are or have been active

360 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

members of the Society. If Christian Endeavor means any-
thing to them, it means that they will carry their religion into
their new-made homes. It is as natural that Christian En-
deavor should stand for Christian family life as for Christian
citizenship or Christian missions. And so the members of the
Home Circle say to each other and their Master, 'Trusting
in the Lord Jesu? Christ for strength, we will endeavor to
maintain family worship in our home, and will strive to make
it, through kindness, courtesy, and mutual helpfulness, a
household of God.' "

An effort somewhat allied to this is one pro-

Rural

Family posed by Secretary Clements of the New York

Union to bring the benefit of Christian Endeavor
to isolated country homes, whose members on account of dis-
tance from church, or because of the impassable roads of win-
ter, could not get to the meetings. It is called "Rural Family
Endeavor," and makes it possible for a single family to form
a little Christian Endeavor society of its own, auxiliary to
the larger society in the church which the members attend.
It also makes it possible for groups of neighbors, living far
from the church, to meet together in a simple Christian En-
deavor service, and thus bring the means of grace to their
very doors. This department of Christian Endeavor will
doubtless meet the need of many scattered communities, and
we already hear of eighteen rural family Endeavor societies
started in the republic of Brazil.

It must be remembered that the value of these co-operat-
ing organizations is not to be measured, by any means, by the
numbers enrolled in them, though in the case of many these
are very large. But one of their chief values is that they give
an opportunity of projecting an idea; they materialize and
embody, so to speak, a thought that would otherwise be evan-
escent. They give something to talk about, something tangi-
ble to describe; they clothe in flesh and blood a spirit which

The New and the Old. 361

needs a ^'local habitation and a name." They do far more
good than statistics can tell, or than the members enrolled
would signify, even though they are numbered by tens of
thousands.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR IN THE AMERICAS.

THE STORY OF THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY
FROM ALASKA IN THE NORTH TO TIERRA DEL FUEGO
IN THE SOUTH, AND THE CAUSES AND ELEMENTS OF
ITS GROWTH, ARE THE BURDEN OF THIS CHAPTER.

" The work of the Christian Endeavor Society during the
quarter of a century of its existence has been far-reaching in
its effect for good. To make better citizens, to lift up the
standard of American manhood and womanhood, is to do the
greatest service to the country."

President Theodore Roosevelt.

" I extend the most cordial greetings to the members of
the Young People's Societies of Christian Endeavor. They
are engaged in a work of vast importance to the entire
country ; a work which belongs to our civilization ; a work
which makes for better people, better homes, and a better
republic. They are a mighty force for good, and are worthy
of the utmost encouragement and support. I wish them the
largest success in their beneficent enterprise."

Hon. Charles IV. Fairbanks,
Vice-President of the United States.

O condense the story of Christian Endeavor in the
three Americas — North, South, and Central —
into one brief chapter, is a difficult undertaking.
Of course only the salient features of this history
can here be presented, but other details will be
found in other chapters of the story of the development of the
movement.

The beginnings of the Society in America need not be de-
tailed here since it is the story, already rehearsed, of the

362

christian Endeavor in the Americas. 363

beginning of Christian Endeavor throughout the world.
Some of the important conventions and leading events in the
American history have also been previously described.

Probably nothing has done more to spread the knowl-
edge of the Society and its principles from Maine to Oregon
and from Manitoba to Texas than the great conventions,
which are inseparably connected with the history of this last
twenty-five years. They have compelled attention. They
have often silenced adverse arguments. They have heart-
ened friends. They have aroused inquiry in the general pub-
lic, which would otherwise have stood aloof, knowing little
and caring less for the Society. "What is this new thing?"
"What is Christian Endeavor? And what do the Endeavor-
ers seek to accomplish?"

If people have not said with some of old, "These who
have turned the world upside down are come hither also,"
they have at least said, "These that have compelled the atten-
tion of press and pulpit by their numbers and enthusiasm,
who have been the subject of conversation in the restaurant
and at the street corner, who have moved the city government
and the State and national authorities to give them a wel-
come, have come hither also; and what does it all mean?"

The Endeavorers have been glad to answer:

Conventions . . °

in "Christian Endeavor means that we stand for

Christ and the church. It means that we desire to
do whatever He would like to have us do. It means a virile,
hopeful, heroic type of Christianity, and this is what has at-
tracted the young people and their well-wishers from far and
near. It means that the religion of Christ is not dead or
dying. It means that the old gospel has within it vitality
enough to take on new forms, when changed conditions make
'ancient good uncouth'."

Two or three of these earlier meetings have already been
described. The conventions in Saratoga in 1886 and 1887

364 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

will always be remembered by those who attended them as
meetings of rare spiritual power. The type was then so new
that they made even a deeper impression upon those in attend-
ance than much larger gatherings, even though just as spir-
itual, would make to-day.

There are of course certain advantages in meetings that
number two thousand, which cannot be altogether shared by
those that number from twenty to forty thousand. The per-
sonal enjoyment where one can hear every word and catch
every expression of the speaker's face is greater, perhaps,
than in the vast building, where the speaker recedes into a
dim and distant perspective. But the sense of the triumphant
power of Christianity, of the mighty army of young Chris-
tians, which is so gracious a feature of the modern convention,
is wanting in the small gatherings; and in these days there
are so many smaller meetings in connection with the great
conventions that the peculiar value of the smaller gathering
is not lost, while there is no other convocation held in the
course of the year, besides the young people's conventions,
that gives the triumphant sense of the mass and power of the
hosts of God.

"Saratoga, '87," was follov/ed by a series of conventions
— Chicago, 1888, Philadelphia, 1889, St. Louis, 1890, and
Minneapolis, 1891 — each one marking growth in numbers and
in strength, and each one making a more decided impression
than the last upon the country, and bringing greater and
greater encouragement to those who were interested in the
Christian Endeavor army.

Cities began to vie with each other in their desire for
the convention. The city governments and boards of trade,
mayors and governors and leading merchants, would send
strenuous appeals to each convention, asking that the next
might be held within their borders. These appeals became
decidedly embarrassing to the trustees of the United Society,

christian Endeavor in the Americas. 365

who had to decide between the rival claims, and who could
often feelingly repeat the words of the old lines,

" How happy could I be with either,
Were t'other dear charmer away!"

The convention in New York in 1892 was not only a rec-
ord-breaker in numbers, but it was the first to impress the
country with the extent and rapid growth of Christian En-
deavor. It has already been alluded to, and it is sufficient to
say that the echoes awakened in Madison Square Garden in
those hot July days have not yet died away. They were heard
around the world, and in distant parts of China and India
the writer has been asked for further particulars of the won-
derful convention that so impressed all who read of it as well
as those who attended it.

The convention of 180-? was held in Montreal;
1893.'^^* and, though a riot was threatened by the hoodlums
of the Catholic population, excited by their priests
and some of their newspapers, because of an unguarded utter-
ance by one of the convention speakers, comparing Catholi-
cism to Hinduism, the meeting passed ofif triumphantly.
The Catholic mayor, who suppressed the incipient riot by
turning the hose upon the rowdies, received a great ovation
from the Endeavorers, especially when he declared in his
farewell speech that Montreal, too, like the Endeavorers,
stood "for Christ and the church," and that "her steeples'
were and always had been higher than her factory chimneys."

The convention of 1894 ^^ Cleveland tested the pluck of
the Endeavorers, for it was held at the very height of the
greatest railroad strike that America has ever known. Roads
were tied up in every direction, and it was uncertain whether
any one who started would reach the convention. But tens
of thousands did start, and the strikers themselves, recogniz-

366 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

ing the pacific and Christian purposes of the Endeavorers, let
the convention trains go through without delay or molesta-
tion. The martyr president, McKinley, then the governor of
Ohio, was an interested attendant at this convention, and spoke
ringing words for Christian citizenship. The great conven-
tion in Boston in 1895 has already been described.

The convention of 1896 was on a magnificent
^06^*"^***"' scale, and was held in the capital city of Washing-
ton. Three great tents, each holding ten thousand
people. Tent Endeavor, Tent Williston, and Tent Washing-
ton, spread their great white wings over the "White Lot," the
use of which the government gave the Endeavorers as a spe-
cial favor. One of these tents blew down in a tremendous cy-
clonic storm the night before the convention was to begin.
But the meeting opened on time in spite of the rain, and
by the vigorous enterprise of the Washington committee the
wrecked tent was repaired, re-erected, and ready for occu-
pation on the third day of the convention. This convention
will long be remembered because of the wonderful praise
service, held on the east front of the Capitol, conducted by
Mr. Percy S. Foster, one of the most beloved and efficient
of the leaders of Christian Endeavor song. A choir of five
thousand was massed upon the great steps of the Capitol, and
a throng estimated at all the way from fifty to a hundred thou-
sand swelled the grand volume of the chorus. It is said that
the magnificent anthem, "Holy, holy, holy. Lord God al-
mighty," was heard more than a mile away, by people upon
the streets and in their homes.

In 1897 the Christian Endeavorers carried out
Francisco, perhaps the greatest religious excursion ever known
^' in American history, for twenty-five thousand per-

sons, it is said, crossed the mountains to California to attend
the Seventeenth International Convention. The railroad au-
thorities on the Pacific coast could not be convinced that any

Christian Endeavor in the Americas. 367

such numbers would think of attending the convention. To
the secretary of the United Society, Mr. John Willis Baer,
who went out to California especially to prepare for the meet-
ings, one of the vice-presidents of a transcontinental railway
said, when told that ten thousand might cross the mountains:
"Young man, cut those figures right in two. I know better
than you do. A convention was never held that would bring
five thousand people from the East." The "young man"
subsided, but it was found that his figures were too small by
more than one-half, and the result was that, having prepared
for only five thousand, the railways were utterly unprepared
to cope with five times that number. Some of the many ex-
cursion trains were nine or ten days in crossing the continent.
Mountains of baggage were piled up awaiting claimants,
some of whom did not get their belongings until the conven-
tion was well over.

In spite of these difficulties, however, perhaps in part
because of them, the convention was a magnificent success,
and will long be remembered by the people on the coast.

In 1898 the Endeavor hosts went to Nashville, and had
the use of the fine buildings in which the exposition of South-
ern industries had been held. The report of the conven-
tion says: "Nashville has enjoyed the very best Christian
Endeavor convention yet held in the world. In every par-
ticular except numbers the convention surpassed its splendid
predecessors. It was more practically helpful, more spiritu-
ally uplifting; it was more magnificently patriotic, more
strikingly brotherly, more thoughtful, more expressive, more
cordial, and more lovable." It was made memorable by the
fraternal union of the Blue and the Gray. In the presence
of Gen. O. O. Howard of the Union army and Gen. Clement
A. Evans, formerly of the Confederate army, and also of Gen.
John T. Morgan, who commanded the Union forces in the
battle of Nashville, this sentiment was incarnated. A piece

368 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

of the original "Old Glory," which had been owned by a
Nashville Unionist, who kept it sewed up in his
Blue coverlid during the war, and brought it out to

and the wave over the capitol when the Union forces
at entered it, had been given to the president of the

Nashville. -.^ . , r^ . ttti i i 11 r

United Society. When he introduced the former
Confederate General Evans, he handed it to the general, who
received it, with emotion, and said, "In all the charges I
have made against this flag I have never seen it floating befor
me on crested ridge or parapet with resentment toward it iv
my heart."

In 1899 ^ niost successful convention was held in Detroit.
The two big tents were surrounded by many smaller ones, and
the "White City" was the centre of attraction for tens of thou-
sands for nearly a week. Three hundred thousand people,
it is said, attended the one hundred and fifty different sessions;
and the Quiet Hours, the Conferences for local-union offi-
cers, the prison conference, and other smaller meetings, as well
as the great tent gatherings, made this convention memorable.

In 1900 the American Endeavorers united in the World's
Convention in the city of London, as has already been de-
scribed; but in 1901 the International Convention was again
held on American soil, this time in the hospitable city of Cin-
cinnati. The traditions of the past were fully maintained in
this meeting, though the reputation of the city as somewhat
torrid in the month of July — a reputation which it failed to
bear out, certainly during this convention week, which was
delightfully cool and comfortable — prevented as large an at-
tendance as at some other meetings.

In 1903 the Endeavorers journeyed half across
1903^^' t^^ continent to hold their convention in the beau-
tiful city of Denver. This was the first of the bi-
ennial conventions, which had been voted two years before,
in order that in the intervening year more emphasis might

christian Endeavor in the Americas. 369

be put upon the State and local conventions. The meeting-
place was exactly a mile high, and the spiritual altitude well
corresponded to the physical. The Rev. R. J. Campbell, the
successor of Dr. Parker in the City Temple of London, at-
tended this convention, and was a great attraction whenever he
spoke in tent or church. The only untoward event was the col-
lapse of the great tent in a hurricane on the last afternoon.
Eight thousand persons were beneath its canvas roof at the

Tent Endeavor, Denver Christian Endeavor Convention.

time; but by the mercy of God, and because of the coolness
and self-control of the great audience, no one was seriously
hurt. In fact, scarcely a scratch was received by any one, but
the imprisoned multitudes cut their way through the canvas,
and five minutes afterward were standing upon the debris and
piles of lumber near by, singing "Praise God from whom all
blessings flow."

370 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

The last convention that comes within the survey of this
history was held in the city of Baltimore in 1905, and it has
gone down in the history of conventions as perhaps the most
enthusiastic and in some respects the most remarkable of any
that has ever been held. The building used, the great armory
hall of the Fifth Regiment, was the largest ever used, and
was seated for 16,500 people; while the Lyric Hall near by
and many churches were also used. The most important ad-
vance step taken was the proposition to mark the completion
of the first quarter-century of the Christian Endeavor move-
ment by the raising of a Memorial Fund for the erection of
suitable Christian Endeavor headquarters, and for an endow-
ment sufficient to put the world-wide extension work of En-
deavor on a permanent basis. "The atmosphere may have
been sticky and uncomfortable," says a reporter of this meet-
ing; "but it was too heavily charged with cheer and joy, en-
thusiasm and evangelism, for misanthropy. Numbers came,
and numbers count, and never was there a more convincing
proof of the inherent vitality and vigor of the Christian En-
deavor movement than was given in Baltimore."

While the great conventions make the deepest
other impression upon the general public, they are not by

in the any means the only factor, nor perhaps the largest

Growth ^ . , 1 <- 1 /^i • • -r^ 1

of factor, m the growth of the Christian Endeavor

Endeavor, movement. Many of these other influences are un-
seen at first, but they are none the less potent.
Some of these, like the rise and progress of "the Quiet Hour"
and the "Tenth Legion," the development of the local union
and the State union, have been described in other chapters.

One of the most reassuring features of the movement is
its ability to develop new forms, and to adopt new methods
when they are needed. A striking illustration of this is found
in the "Increase Campaign." It was in the year 1902 that
the writer was attending the Ohio State convention in Zanes-

christian Endeavor in the Americas. 371

ville. It was a good meeting, large, enthusiastic, full of
vigor. But it seemed to him that more yet might be accom-
plished, and that there was some danger that the Endeavorers
of Ohio and in other commonwealths might settle down to
the idea that they had won the victory, and that there was
little more land to be possessed. So at one of the meetings
he proposed an "Increase Campaign," and that during the
next year the Ohio Endeavorers should strive to add ten per
cent to the number of their societies. It seemed like a large
^ task, for there were already between three and four

Increase thousand socicties in the Buckeye State, and it was
ampaign. gyppQgg^j |-j^^j- nearly all the churches that desired
Christian Endeavor societies already had them.

But the leaders of the State union, especially the inde-
fatigable field secretary. Rev. C. H. Hubbell, took up the
idea with enthusiasm, went to work with a will, and before
the twelve months were out had gained their ten per cent.
Within two years more than seven hundred new societies had
been formed in Ohio, and her officers intend to close the
puarter-century year with a thousand new Endeavor societies
to their credit.

This idea was taken up with almost equal enthusiasm in
other States. In some of them it was a much smaller task to
gain their ten per cent, for they had comparatively few to
base a percentage on. Thus Indian Territory and Oklahoma
added 211 new societies, making a gain of sixty-four and a
half per cent in two years. Indiana gained more than thirty
per cent by adding t^'j'] societies. Louisiana added 42 socie-
ties, nearly fifty per cent of all she had before. Assiniboia
gained more than fifty per cent, while Hawaii surpassed all
records by more than doubling her societies, which she did
in two years by adding twenty-five to the numbers of January,
1903. The total gain in societies in the United States and
Canada in the two years following the beginning of the In-

372 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

crease Campaign was 6,780, an average of more than twenty-
three per cent.

In 1905 the Increase Campaign idea was enlarged by
making it a "Betterment" as well as an "Increase campaign,"
and by the proposition that it should extend over ten years,
by which time it was hoped that all the States would double
their numbers. Better meetings, larger missionary contribu-
tions, and better citizenship efforts were all to be recognized
at the Baltimore convention, and thousands of local societies
and hundreds of local unions were recorded in Secretary
Vogt's Recognition Leaflet, given out at Baltimore to recog-
nize the reports received by him of specially fine work done
by the societies during 1904 and 1905. It is a pamphlet of
seventy large and closely printed pages, with double columns
giving only a line to each society, but every line, by a system
of numerals, signifying a lot of splendid work reported by
that society.

A later development of the Society in Amer-
Field ica, but a very natural one, is the employment of

field secretaries by the different States whose work
has grown so large and important as to need some one to
give his whole time and attention to it. This was started
in Ohio in 1901, and has been followed by Maine and Cali-
fornia, Oregon and Colorado, Massachusetts, New York,
Kentucky, and other States. These field secretaries have often
been ministers of various denominations, though sometimes
young laymen are chosen ; but in every instance they have
not only rendered valuable service to the Endeavor move-
ment, but in many ways have helped the churches in other
lines, "doing the work of an evangelist" oftentimes, and
strengthening in many ways the weak places in the walls of
Zion.

The developments in North America of the Christian
Endeavor Society among others than those of the Caucasian

christian Endeavor in the Americas. 373

race deserves more attention than can be given in this chap-
ter. The colored societies are very numerous, and are con-
stantly increasing. Two of the most eminent bishops of the
colored churches have long been members of the board of
trustees of the United Society, and another of the race repre-
sents the colored Baptist churches. No color line is ever
drawn in the national conventions, and such speakers as
Bishop Arnett and Bishop Walters and Booker T. Washing-
ton are among the most acceptable Christian Endeavor con-
vention orators.

The colored societies of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church are called "Allen Societies" after one of their leaders,
and the societies in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion
Church belong to the so-called '^Varick Union." In Flori
Ida alone there were at the last report 163 societies of the
'Allen League of Christian Endeavor," 143 of which had
been formed in the previous year. j

Christian ^^^ work of Christian Endeavor among the

Endeavor North American Indians has always been most in-

Among • A 1 •

the terestmg. A home missionary tells of seeing a

Indians. r t j* ^ ^' . ^

company of young Indians starting out one day on
their bronchos for a new settlement some miles distant.
When he asked them where they were going, they told hirn"
that they were the committee of the Christian Endeavor so-
ciety of that reservation, and that they were going to form
another society in this new settlement of whites for which they
were bound. Truly that is a reversal of former history, when
the Indians carry the gospel to the whites.

Among many tribes of Indians are whole-souled Endeav-
orers; and, when the Rosebud Indian Reservation of South
Dakota was opened up last year, Christian Endeavor entered
as soon as the white settlers, and found itself no stranger in the
happy hunting-grounds of the red men.

There are but four societies in Alaska, but some most ad-

374

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

mirable and active Endeavorers are found among them. The
Rev. Mr. Marsden, a full-blooded Alaskan, has long been
active in the work, and has been an acceptable speaker at more
than one convention.

The Chinese Endeavorers in America are among the
most generous and devoted of all. The society which has
long held the record for the largest benevolence, barring only
one in all the land, is a Chinese society in San Francisco,
which for a number of years has averaged about $i,8oo a
year for mission work.

Canadian Endeavorers at Dr. Clark's Birthplace, Aylmer, Quebec.

It is not necessary to mention the dififerent nationalities
in America that are interested in the Endeavor movement,
since, though they sometimes meet by themselves, they also
form an integral part of the American hosts. It is necessary
only to say that there are societies speaking German and
Welsh, Bohemian, Polish, Hungarian, Swedish, and Nor-
wegian. Almost all of these Endeavorers are bilingual, and

Christian Endeavor in the Americas. 375

also join in the meetings and the work of their English-
speaking comrades. A large conference of the German socie-
ties of the Atlantic district was recently held in Brooklyn, a
German Endeavor paper was proposed, and a general secre-
tary was chosen, while the Welsh societies also have a yearly
convention of their own, usually in one of the interior States.
Canada and the United States for all Chris-
Dominion tian Endeavor purposes may be considered as one
cinada Country, for they belong to the same international
union, and their interests are largely the same,
though a Dominion Union has also been formed to give espe-

The Cathedral in ]\Icxico City.

cial attention to Canadian affairs. In two or three of the
Provinces of Canada there was for several years an apparent
decline in the Christian Endeavor movement, and an actual

376 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

loss in the numbers reported, the only country in the world,
so far as I know, of which this could be said. This decline
was most marked in the Maritime Provinces and in Ontario,
but it is believed to be only temporary. Indeed, there are al-
ready signs of quickening in these Provinces. The Quebec
Union, splendidly manned, was never more active than now,
and in Manitoba and the Northwest constant and rapid gain
has been reported.

Mexico has long had a vigorous and devoted

Mexico's ^, . . T- 1 ^- ^ --ri • •

Endeav= Christian Endeavor contingent. 1 he missionaries,
*"'^'*^' especially of the Congregational and Presbyterian

churches, have taken great interest in the Society from the
start. Some of the noblest examples of heroism in Christian
work, of determination in overcoming obstacles, of long and
difficult journeys taken to attend the conventions, come from
this great republic. Mexico's last records show 133 Christian
Endeavor societies, a gain in membership, though not in socie-
ties, of 25 per cent. Their last convention was reported to
be the "best yet," and new plans were laid for the larger work
of the future. The official organ of the society is El Esfor-
zado Mexicano, and a good one it is. No one has done more
for Christian Endeavor in Mexico than. Mrs. C. S. Williams,
of the Presbyterian Board, who has long been the secretary of
the Union. Rev. James D. Eaton, D. D., and Mrs. Eaton,
among other missionaries, have also been especially helpful
to the cause in its earlier days.

As we go farther south, we find in Costa Rica ten socie-
ties, in Guatemala three, while others are reported on the
Mosquito Coast and in other parts of Central America. The
islands on the American coast are treated in another chapter.

, Coming to South America, we find that Bra-

in _ , =• '

South zil is pre-eminently the Christian Endeavor coun-

try of this part of America. Here are found 62
societies, 43 of them being in the enterprising province of

christian Endeavor in the Americas. 377

Sao Paulo. Exceedingly interesting accounts come from
Brazil of picturesque conventions and of faithful work done
by the Endeavorers. The growth in this great country has
been most remarkable of late years, considering the obsta-
cles encountered and the great predominance of the Catholic
Church. In 1900 there were only two societies in all Brazil;
now the two have been multiplied by thirty-two. Most prac-
tical and efficient work, too, is done by the Brazilian Endeav-

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The Second National Christian Endeavor Convention in Brazil.

orers. The Anglican society of Sao Paulo, for instance, con-
ducts a seamen's reading-room, where sailors of all nation-
alities may find a welcome and literature in their own lan-
guage. The Union Presbyterian Endeavorers of the same
city do much out-of-door missionary work, holding meetings
in different parts of the city and in the suburbs. The native

378

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Brazilians are trying to interest the Germans, Italians, and
other nationalities in Christian Endeavor with large hope of
success, and the last national convention that w^as held was one
of unequalled power. At this convention sixteen ministers,
representing five denominations, took part, and greetings were
received from many parts of the world. A chorus sang for
the first time the new national Christian Endeavor hymn,
written by Teixira da Silva, while the evangelistic spirit was

Group of Endeavorers in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

marked throughout the convention, and is characteristic of
Brazilian Endeavor.

Missionaries of various denominations have very effi-
ciently helped the cause. To Mr. R. W. Fenn, of the Pres-
byterian mission in Brazil, must be given especial credit for
enthusiastic labors while he was in Brazil, and for raising
money to help the Endeavorers there since he returned to
'America. Of all the Brazilians, none have done more for

christian Endeavor in the Americas. 379

the cause than the general secretary of the Brazilian Union,
Rev. Eliezer dos Sanctos Saraiva.

But little as yet has come to the knowledge of the writer
concerning other South American countries, though most of
them have small Christian Endeavor contingents, and have
doubtless made interesting history, were it only known. Co-
lombia is credited with five societies, Chile with six, British
Guiana, where the Society has been especially vigorous, has
eleven, while other societies are known to exist in the Argen-
tine Republic, in Uruguay and Venezuela. It is evidently
the intention of the Endeavorers of this great section of Amer-
ica, as it certainly is of the officers of the World's Union, that
South America shall not be the "neglected continent" of
Christian Endeavor.

CHAPTER XXIX.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR IN EUROPE.

TELLING THE PART OF GREAT BRITAIN, GERMANY,
AND THE OTHER COUNTRIES OF CONTINENTAL EU-
ROPE IN THE WORK OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR, ITS
BEGINNINGS AND SUBSEQUENT GROWTH IN ALL
THESE LANDS.

" To our dear brothers in Christian Endeavor who here
represent the great European nationalities — France and
Spain, Germany and Sweden, Switzerland and Italy, and
perchance others also, I would say: 'Surely your coming is
the expression of a warm desire for a good understanding be-
tween nation and nation. We reciprocate that sentiment.
Your presence here is a prophecy of that perhaps distant but
sure-coming day, when nation shall not vex nation, and when
they shall learn war no more.' "

Rev. J. B. Alorgan, at the London Convention.

HE Story of the Christian Endeavor movement
in every country in Europe is but a repetition
of the ever-interesting story of providential
openings, small beginnings, numerous ob-
stacles, and finally substantial growth; at least
this is the story of the Society where it has been in existence
long enough to get beyond its initial stage, and really make a'
home and a welcome for itself.

The beginning of the Society in Great Britain and one
of the great conventions there have already been described
at some length, and the recent growth has been so many-sided
and so general throughout all parts of the United Kingdom
that only the briefest view can be given in this chapter. Other

380

Christian Endeavor in Europe. 381

Officers and Workers in Europe.

Rev. Horace Button,

Switzerland.

Rev. Frederick Blecher,

Germany.
Rev. J. H. House,
Salonica, Macedonia.

Vicente Mateu,

Treasurer of the Spanish C. E.

Efr. Rang,
Johanneslund, Stockholm.
Rev. V. Van Der Beken,
General Secretary, France.

382 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

chapters will tell more of the works of mercy and various
lines of church and philanthropic activity undertaken by the
British Endeavorers.

For the most part, Christian Endeavor in Great Britain
has developed along the same lines that the Society has fol-
lowed in America, and many of the plans used in America,
like the "Quiet Hour," the "Tenth Legion," the "Increase
Campaign," etc., have been found of equal value in Great
Britain. It has also developed national characteristics of its
own, as the Society is sure to do, owing to its flexibility and
adaptability of method.

The Sunday-School Union was the first sponsor for
Christian Endeavor in Great Britain, and, when there were
but a few societies in all the country besides the original
British society in the High Street Church of Crewe, invited
the writer to tell the British public something of the new
organization. This was in 1888, and the invitation was re-
peated in 1891, when the quartette of American ministers
already named visited a score of different places in Great
Britain, including such important centres as Bristol, Ports-
mouth, Taunton, Boston, Colchester, Sunderland, besides
holding a number of meetings in different parts of London.
They undertook the journey at their own expense, except so
far as travelling-expenses from place to place in England
were concerned, and they were everywhere most kindly and
hospitably received.

Q^^^^ From this time the cause went rapidly for-

Conventions ward. The conventions are upon the same gen-
Great erous scale as in America, and Manchester and Bir-
Bntain. rningham and Shefiield and Glasgow and Belfast
and Newcastle and Bristol are all memorable in Christian
Endeavor convention annals. The national convention of
1904, held in London, was particularly memorable because of
the formation of the European Christian Endeavor Central

christian Endeavor in Europe. 383

Bureau. Representatives from a dozen different countries in
Europe met in a room of the Sunday-School Union on the Old
Bailey, and formed the European Union, which is destined to
do a great and most-needed work throughout all the Continent,
bringing together the forces that speak so many different lan-
guages, and yet are all united in the bonds of Christian En-
deavor. Since the Society began to gather strength and head-
way in Great Britain its affairs have been wisely managed
by a National Council representing all denominations and all
parts of the United Kingdom. This Council chooses the
president of the Union, and also a chairman to preside over
its own deliberations every year.

Nor has the president been any mere figurehead, but has
always done efficient service, travelling hither and yon, from
Land's End to John O' Groat's, wherever he was called by the
Endeavorers. Even so busy a man as the Rev. F. B. Meyer
found time to accept the presidency of the British Union with
all that it involved, for one year, and sacredly set apart one
day out of every week from his multifarious duties to answer
Christian Endeavor calls from far and near. Rev. John R.
Fleming, during the year of his incumbency of the office,
stimulated the literary as well as the spiritual side of Christian
Endeavor, and still continues to guide the literary circles with
courses of studies in general reading, in the Bible, and in
church history. The eloquent voice of the Rev. Joseph
Brown Morgan, one of the earlier presidents, was heard in
every part of Great Britain pleading for the principles of
Christian Endeavor.

The Rev. W. Bainbridge was most active during the year
of his presidency in presenting Christian Endeavor to the eye
as well as the ear by means of beautifully illustrated lectures.
The Rev. E. R. Barrett was untiring in his efforts, during his
incumbency, while the present president, the Rev. Bishop E.
R. Hasse, is no less zealous in his efforts for the advancement

384 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

of the cause. A different denomination each year is repre-
sented in the presidential chair, and all these incumbents are
busy men with large parishes of their own to look after.

But, while presidents come and presidents go, the Rev.
W. Knight Chaplin, the secretary of the Union, remains at
his post, which he has occupied from the formation of the
national union. With marvellous industry he not only attends
to his secretarial duties, but edits The Christian Endeavour
Times as well, preaches on Sunday to his own congregation,
and goes here and there throughout Great Britain to scores of
conventions at the call of the Endeavorers.
Scotch, The different parts of the United Kingdom,

Irish, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, have developed their

and ' ' '^

Welsh own Christian Endeavor unions, and have their own

annual conventions, meetings large in numbers and
of wide influence. Somewhat like the State unions in Amer-
ica, they manage their own affairs, but are in sympathetic
relations with the national union. The Scotch, Irish, and
Welsh contingents all have their characteristics, and all add
their own individual harmonious note to the Christian En-
deavor symphony. The Isle of Man, too, has its own vigor-
ous "Manx Union," with an admirable monthly magazine of
its own devoted to the interests of Christian Endeavor.

Some of the local unions of Great Britain are of great
strength and importance, the London Union, indeed, being
the largest in the world, with more than seven hundred socie-
ties, divided into nineteen divisions, each doing what it can
for the spiritual uplift of the world's metropolis.

The Yorkshire Union and the Lancashire and Cheshire
Federation also number tens of thousands of Endeavorers,
and, like many other vigorous local unions, have a distinct and
most vigorous life of their own. A considerable number of
societies are not as yet connected with the national union, so
that the total number is larger than the reports indicate.

christian Endeavor in Europe. 385

To attempt to characterize the work of these unions in
detail would be a hopeless task. A volume should be given
to each one, but the writer can say from personal visits to al-
most every one of them that no more enthusiastic companies of
Christian Endeavorers meet together in any part of the world
than are found in these British unions. Indeed, he would
give the palm to them for hearty and uplifting congregational
singing, and for genuine enthusiasm which stirs a speaker's
heart and brings out the best that is in him they divide the
honors with their Australian brethren, if they do not excel all
others. British and Australian audiences are far more demon-
strative and inspiring to address than those in America or in
most other parts of the world.

The different divisions of the Methodist Church, with
the exception of the Wesleyan, have fostered Christian En-
deavor more heartily than the other denominations, and have
reaped the advantage of such fostering care. Especially have
the Primitive Methodists made great progress of late years in
the number and vigor of their societies. The rise and prog-
ress of the Church of England Christian Endeavor Union
with its helpful meetings and its admirable magazine has been
most gratifying.

Next to Great Britain in the number and

Vigorous , , . ,^, . . f-^ , . .

Growth Strength of its Christian Endeavor societies comes
Germany. Germany, where the work is practically only ten
years old. A romance of religion is the story of
Christian Endeavor in Germany. Had the writer been told
ten years ago that by this time there would be three hundred
societies in the Fatherland, nine well-equipped Christian En-
deavor districts, holding their annual conventions, a general
secretary, two field secretaries, a Christian Endeavor maga-
zine, a Junior paper, and a large amount of Christian En-
deavor literature, he would have said like the sceptic of old,
"If the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing

386

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

be?" But it has all come to pass, and in a most natural and
gradual way, so that the extent of the growth can hardly be
realized. Not that the numbers are as yet very large; but
when the obstacles overcome are considered, and the indiffer-
ence with which the Society was received at first is remem-
bered, the growth seems little less than marvellous.

Under the blessing of God, to whom he first of all would
ascribe these successes, the growth of Christian Endeavor in

Scandinavian Delegates to Christian Endeavor Convention in Berlin.

Germany is due to the Rev. Frederick Blecher, who from
the beginning has been the hard-working, self-sacrificing, de-
voted secretary, never discouraged, always cheerful and hope-
ful of results. Willing to foster small beginnings and to take
hold vigorously of discouraging "propositions," he has won
for himself an enviable place among the leaders of Christian
Endeavor.

Many important and influential conventions have been

christian Endeavor in Europe. 387

held in Germany during these ten years, but the crown of them
all was the European convention in Berlin in 1905, where, as
Mr. Blecher writes:

^'Christian Endeavor became for the first time widely
known in the capital and to the higher Christian circles. The
highest church officer of Berlin, General Superintendent D.
D. Faber, welcomed the convention in Circus Schumann, and
many denominations shook hands and worked together, in our
Fatherland a rare thing indeed.

"If before that convention we had much resistance, open
or secret, we find now many open doors, and much more inter-
est (though also critics) ; and the number of societies and mem-
bers is constantly growing.

"Our German United Society is divided into nine unions,
which all have conventions once or twice a year, blessed con-
ventions, where especially the Lord is deepening the work;
for the dififerent parts of our country have all their individual
needs, and there they can best become fulfilled. I think that
is a great advantage of the state unions.

"We are so glad that through the extended distribution
of our literature our influence is extending in the most north-
ern countries of Europe, in Austria, Poland, Sweden, the
Baltic provinces, and others."

Mr. Blecher sends many testimonies from
German German pastors to the value of the Christian En-
Endeavor deavor Society in their churches, which would

Missionary. '-* * j ' _

make interesting reading, did space permit of their
introduction. We can add here only that two field secretaries.
Pastor Urbschat and Mr. H. Laus, assist Pastor Blecher in
his work, and that the Rev. S. Hugenschmidt has just been
sent as a missionary by the Christian Endeavor forces of Ger-
many to the Caroline Islands to work under the auspices of
the American Board, which has long been engaged in the
evangelization of these islands. When these were taken over
by Germany, the operations of the American missionaries
were greatly disturbed; and now, to show the sympathy of

388 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

German Christians, and especially of German Endeavorers,
with this work, these young people, with the full approval of
their pastors, support this missionary of the- American society,
a truly remarkable instance of international and interdenomi-
national brotherly love.

The financial success of the German Union has long been
a source of surprise, possibly of envy, to Endeavorers in other
lands. That a company of young people so comparatively
small, and few of them wealthy, can with ease support so ex-
tensive a work in their own land, besides sending a missionary
to the other side of the world, and then have something left
over for the advancement of Christian Endeavor in neighbor-
ing countries, is indeed surprising. But the explanation is not
far to seek. To good financial management on the part of the
leaders is added systematic generosity on the part of the mem-
bers, each one of whom contributes half a mark a year (twelve
and a half cents in American money, or an English sixpence)
for the advance of Christian Endeavor.

For a little time Germany received financial aid from the
United Society in America, but very soon, in the true spirit of
Christian independence, it began not only to care for its own,
but to help the "regions beyond."

In the Lutheran countries to the north of Germany Chris-
tian Endeavor is also making vigorous headway, except in
Denmark, where as yet it has scarcely begun its work, though
one or two societies exist in the kingdom.

Scandi= Sweden has long been the leader in Scandi-

navia. . . . ,^, . . T^ 1

navian countries m Christian Endeavor matters.
The writer on three occasions has received a very cordial
welcome from the Christian people of Sweden, and both in
the state church and in the free churches, especially those
of the Baptist denomination, the cause is growing strong.
The king of Sweden himself has expressed to me his interest
in the cause, and his second son, the devoted Prince Oscar

christian Endeavor in Europe. 389

Bernadotte, takes a deep interest in the societies, as he does in
all Christian work for the young. Sweden now reports more
than two hundred societies, and Professor Rang, of the Lu-
theran Church, and Mr. August Palm, of the Baptist Church,
deserve especial credit for being the pioneers of the Society
in their respective denominations.

In Norway Christian Endeavor is of much more recent
growth than in Sweden. In fact, it hardly obtained a fair start
until in 1905 the Rev. Horace Dutton, who has done so much
for the cause throughout Europe, settled down for a serious

A Christian Endeavor Convention in Sweden.

campaign among the Norwegians, going from city to city and
from pastor to pastor to explain the principles of the move-
ment, to dispel prejudices, to remove misapprehensions, and
to commend the Society to a most earnest company of Chris-
tians, who have become thoroughly enthusiastic Christian En-
deavorers. Though the societies are not many at this writ-
ing, yet Norwegian Christian Endeavor will have a large and
honorable place, I believe, in the history of the future.

In Finland the Society has had a most auspici-

Growth ous beginning. On visiting Helsingfors in 1902 I

Finland. deemed it my duty to explain to the audience that

gathered in the hall of the Young Men's Christian

Association the principles of Christian Endeavor in the sim-

390 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

plest and most elemental way, supposing that few, if any, of
my auditors had ever heard of the Society before. What was
my surprise to be addressed after the meeting by a young Finn,
who told me in very good English that he belonged to a Chris-
tian Endeavor society in Helsingfors, and that there were a
number of Endeavorers present! This was Professor Sax-
back, who has since been the leader throughout the Grand
Duchy. It seems that he had been in America, and, living in
Milwaukee, had become a member of a society there. On
his return to Finland he established the organization in his
native city, and now we find that there are more than twenty
societies in Finland that are doing an excellent work.

Since Finland is a part of Russia we can easily pass on
to other parts of this vast empire. In St. Petersburg we find
at least one strong society in the Anglo-American Church,
which Baron Nikolai, well known in court circles as well as
among the Christian forces of St. Petersburg, speaks of as "a
blessed haven of rest" for him. But the largest development
of Christian Endeavor in Russia is found in the Baltic prov-
inces, especially in the Lettish provinces.* There the So-
ciety has found an enthusiastic friend in the Rev. Robert
Bahtz, who has become the field secretary of the cause in this
part of Russia. His enthusiasm breathes in every word of
his letters. This short extract from one tells of the beginning
of Christian Endeavor among the Lettish people:

A^ong *T send you the good news that through the

the grace of God the Young People's Society of Chris-

^^*'^' tian Endeavor has found a foothold in the Baltic

provinces of Russia. For this the glory is God's alone. His
name be praised in all lands and all languages! Through the

* The latest reports at the close of 1905 record 36 societies with 579 members
in the Russian-Baltic Christian Endeavor Union, of which 16 are in Livland,
7 in Kurland, and 13 among the Letts in other parts of Russia. Though the Society
has not yet found its way into the Greek Church of Russia, there are some who
predict that its largest field in the future, when thoroughly understood, will be in
that church.

christian Endeavor in Europe.

391

Lettish paper, The Evangelist, the cause of Christian En-
deavor has become known among the Lettish people, and we
hope that it will have a great future among them. There are
already, four societies: one German in Dorpat, and in Riga,
Rujen, and Tuckum each one Lettish society. Hallelujah!
We have already a hundred members in Russia."

In Austria and Bohemia the work has been promoted by
the American missionaries * and Pastor Alois Adlof is the

First Christian Endeavor Convention Held in Russia at Rujen, Livonia.

efficient secretary of the work, which is yet in its infancy in
those countries.

In Hungary greater progress has been made, and sixteen
societies are reported. The worthy leader of the work is
Professor Szabo, of the University of Budapest, whose father-
in-law, the Rev. Theodore Biberauer, first became interested
in the movement in Hungary about ten years ago. Professor
Szabo has published in Hungarian religious periodicals many
articles about the Society, and to his enthusiastic leadership
are largely due the substantial beginnings of the work in this

* The Rev. A. W. Clark, D.D., and the Rev. J. S. Porter.

392 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

great progressive country. Pastor Julius Forgacs is the secre-
tary of Christian Endeavor work in Hungary. There are
some Junior societies as w^ell as societies for young people,
and one of the latest efforts is a society for the university men
of Budapest.

In the Balkan States, too, Christian Endeavor
is well represented. If the numbers are not large,
the quality is of the very best. Both in Bulgaria
and in Macedonia the work is started. In Phil-
ippopolis, Samokov, Sofia, and Salonica are societies, and
there are beginnings which promise larger things in the years

In
the

Balkan
States.

Executive Committee of Hungarian Christian Endeavor Union.

to come. Perhaps the most interesting centre of Christian
Endeavor in the Balkan States is Monastir in Macedonia,
where there are no less than four societies. In these four so-
cieties are people of six nationalities, Bulgarians, Servians,
Albanians, Wallachians, Greeks, and Americans. In Samo-
kov, among the warm-hearted Bulgarian students the writer

christian Endeavor in Europe. 393

witnessed a remarkable scene of the outpouring of the Spirit
of God, and he will never forget the cordial welcome
which he received in Monastir a few years ago. Though
it is in the very heart of the most disturbed district in all
Europe, though bandits from the mountains and Turkish
soldiers quartered upon the people made life miserable for the
inhabitants, though our meetings had to be held by daylight,
and all had to be behind locked doors and gates before dark,
yet here we found a company of Endeavorers that will do
credit to any town of the size in England or America. Turk-
ish rule forbade the girls' meeting us at the station; but, as we
approached the school compound, we were welcomed by the
cchoolgirls singing in good English,

"God bless you, God bless you;
God be with you in the coming days!"

The missionaries of the European Turkey mission of the
American Board have done much for the cause of Christian
Endeavor.*

In the Latin countries Christian Endeavor has

Latin naturally had more obstacles to contend with, and

a slower growth than in the Teutonic lands where
Protestantism prevails. Nevertheless, on the whole it has
given a very good account of itself. The hearty welcome ex-
, tended to Christian Endeavor at the beginning by Mr. Greig
of the McAU Mission has already been described. Dr. Mc-
All himself was no less cordial and friendly, though, when the
writer first went to France, this Scotch apostle to the Gauls
was near the end of his life's work, and could do but little
actively to show his interest. But the Society has always

* Among them should be especially mentioned Dr. Bond and Miss Matthews
and Miss Cole of Monastir, Dr. Marsh of Philippopolis, Miss Haskell of Samokov,
Dr. House and Mr. Haskell and Mr. Holway of Salonica. Miss Ellen Stone, the
well-known missionary who was captured by brigands, and her companion in
captivity, Mrs. Tsilka, are also active Endeavorers.

394

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

flourished in the McAll Mission. It has also found its way
into many of the Reformed Churches, and at the end of our
first quarter-century France reports 120 societies.

Some of the most interesting and useful societies in
France have been in the foreign churches of Paris, the Ameri-
can Church in the Rue de Berri, the Wesleyan Church in
the Rue Roquepine, and the students' meeting in the Latin

H^^^I^H^^^E^^^^^^IHr' ^ri

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f^^PfcwiflB^^

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Spanish Christian Endeavorers,
Dressed in the Costumes of Different Provinces.

Quarter. One of the best illustrations of what a young man
away from home on a short visit to a foreign city can do is
furnished by the story of Mr. W. H. Lewis, who accompanied
the Bering Sea Arbitration Commission to Paris some twelve
years ago as the secretary of one of the commissioners. An
earnest Endeavorer in Washington, he was no less an earnest
Endeavorer in Paris. He started the society in the American
Church, which has had so long and honorable a career, and
greatly encouraged societies in other parts of Paris, so that

christian Endeavor in Europe. 395

before he left it was possible to hold a meeting of the Paris
Union, where the hymns and prayers and psalms in two lan-
guages were heard by the one Father in heaven. The French
Christian Endeavor Union is of but recent formation, and
Pastor Van der Beken, the secretary, has proved wise and
efficient in his administration.

To show that Christian Endeavor bears the same fruit in
parts of the world where it is only just established as in the
oldest Christian Endeavor centres, room must be made for the
story of some little girls in Marseilles who belong to a Junior
society, and who give up their afternoons to admirable sun-
shine work. "Two or three of them go together," we are told,
"with a violin, a little collection of good things which their
mothers have helped them to get together — some potatoes, a
box of matches, candles, some bread and meat and butter, and
so on. They sing hymns to each old woman they call on, and
one of them prays. If they are very young and timid, one of
them repeats the Lord's Prayer." No wonder that the ac-
count adds, "These little 'district visitors' are very popular in
the neighborhood."

Christian Endeavor in Italy has not as yet had
Italy. ^ ^^^y vigorous growth, though there is much to

encourage it even there. The beginning of the
work here, as in Scandinavia, was due largely to the Rev.
Horace Dutton, and now the union is fully equipped with the
Rev. G. Cervi of the Wesleyan Methodist Church as secre-
tary, the Rev. M. H. Shaw of the Baptist Church as president,
and Dr. Gray, the veteran Presbyterian pastor of Rome, as
treasurer. "We thank God," says Dr. Gray, "for the societies
that exist. That which has given us especial cause for satis-
faction is found in the fact that all who have made trial of
Christian Endeavor have been satisfied with its results, and
deplore only that they did not know of it sooner."

In Rome, Florence, Naples, and Turin Endeavor socie-

396

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

ties are found, and a regular Christian Endeavor department
is kept up in the weekly Gioventu.

One would expect in advance that the sturdy little repub-
lic of Switzerland would prove a fruitful field for Christian
Endeavor, and such is the case, at least in the limited section
of Switzerland where the Society has had a chance to prove its
work. The movement is as yet largely confined to Geneva

p.- - --

i ■

^^K-' SHh ■NPHhj^PVBPv pt'ji^wMgjjg^^^.-^ ^^^sgjj^^w|Hw fHri^^^^H

^Hf ^

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mK^

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muKt^

'v' -' -.sIIk^..

MjBi; ,

Christian Endeavor Society of Geneva, Switzerland. ^

and the vicinity, but here is found a vigorous and aggressive
local union, which has undertaken to entertain the World's
Convention and the quarter-century convention in 1906. The
history of this convention will come into the annals of the
next quarter-century of Christian Endeavor, to be sure; but
by way of anticipation I may be allowed to remark, perhaps,
that from what I have seen of the Geneva committee and their

christian Endeavor in Europe.

397

arrangements the convention promises to be one of the most
memorable in all the annals of Christian Endeavor. Mr.
Charles Briquet, a young merchant of Geneva, is the secretary
of the union, and the leading spirit in the work, and he is ably
supported by many other eminent pastors.

There remains only the story of Christian En-

inthe deavor in the Iberian Peninsula. In Spain the first

Peninsula. SOciety was formed in the International Institute for

Girls, then located in San Sebastian, a noble mission

school, which has since been removed to Madrid. Through

A Junior Christian Endeavor Society in Spain.

the influence of Mr. and Mrs. Gulick and the other
teachers all the girls who have gone out from this school
for many years have gone out as earnest Christians and thor-
oughly equipped Endeavorers. In their own home towns to

398 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

which they have gone and in the schools in which they have
become teachers they have formed Endeavor societies, and it
is largely due to their influence that many of the fifty-one
societies in Spain have been established. Miss Catharine
Barbour of this mission, who was greatly beloved in her life
and lamented in her death, was especially active in introduc-
ing the work.

Other missions, however, have taken up the work, and
the societies are now found in nearly every place where Prot-
estant work is undertaken.*

During the past year, too, the Society has spread from
Spain to the Madeira Islands and the Balearic Islands. The
Rev. William H. Gulick, the beloved father of the movement
in Spain, writes, "It is the unanimous testimony of Christian
observers that no systematized agency hitherto existing in our
congregations has at all equalled the societies of Christian En-
deavor for the discovering of talent and the developing of the
same along practical lines of evangelistic work." Dr. Gu-
lick's efforts are heartily seconded by some of the ablest native
Spanish Protestants, and in addition to the admirable En-
deavor monthly, Esfuerzo Cristiano, published in Madrid,
the societies of Valencia issue a monthly bulletin called El
Pequeno Esfuerzo. Of the half a hundred societies in Spain
twenty are Junior societies and seven are Mothers' societies.
In this respect the Spanish Endeavorers, in proportion to
their numbers, lead the world. Their example, it is hoped,
will ere long be followed by the mothers of many other lands.
' The story of Christian Endeavor in Portugal may well
be a brief one, since there are as yet but two societies, one in
Lisbon and one in an Episcopal church near Oporto. "We
are thankful to our heavenly Father," says the Rev. Diogo
Cassels, of Oporto, "for being able to say that we have a little

* Don Vincente Mateu is the president, and Don Carlos Araujo, Jr., the sec-
retary, of the Spanish Union.

christian Endeavor in Europe.

399

company of fifty-five Christian Endeavorers, many of whom
attend regularly our choir practices, and take a hearty part in
the church services. Not a few help at our cottage services,
teach in the Sunday-school, visit the sick, collect money or
work for missions to the heathen." To Mr. J. Barreto must
be given the credit of the introduction of Christian Endeavor
into Portugal. Young, enthusiastic, attractive in person and

Spanish Junior Christian Endeavor Society of Valencia.

speech, he communicated his enthusiasm to other young peo-
ple in Lisbon; and never has the writer seen a more joyous
company of young Christians than he once met in that beau-
tiful city. Soon afterwards Mr. Barreto went to Switzer-
land to complete his studies. But Christian Endeavor has
struck root in Portugal, and in the years to come, I believe,
will bear abundant fruit.

CHAPTER XXX.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR IN AFRICA.

FROM CAIRO TO THE CAPE IN CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR,
AS WELL AS THE WORK OF THE SOCIETY IN THE
DARKEST CORNERS OF THE DARK CONTINENT.

" What the great world of heathendom wants is not angels
in heaven, but men and women with the spirit of heaven
down here on earth. Christian Endeavor was born into the
world to help bring this vast human need and the divine
supply together. Some of the principles underlying this
movement fit very closely into the problems that confront
us in the Dark Continent. Yonder on the shores of the
great Victoria Nyanza we are a little force of seven mis-
sionary Endeavorers in a tribe numbering a million people.
But what are we among so many? Seven against a million!
Can we compass the need ? Nay ! But we can train a
force of native workers, who in God's hand will do the
work much more quickly and effectively than we could do it
ourselves."

Rev. Willis R. Hotchkiss, Africa.

OME years ago a German missionary climbed
the Cheops Pyramid, that giant structure that
has been an indestructible monument through
so many centuries of the past. And what did
she find engraved upon a stone on the sum-
mit? C. E., our well-known symbol of Christian Endeavor.
It is true that old Egypt knew nothing of our movement;
but young Egypt that is just beginning to rise out of the
sloughs of superstition and ignorance of past centuries has
taken up the subject, and had carved the symbol." So writes
a German Christian Endeavorer. The author may be al-

400

christian Endeavor in Africa.

401

402 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

lowed, perhaps, to supplement this introduction to Christian
Endeavor in Africa with some observations of his own, writ-
ten in Cairo in 1896, but two years after the first society was
started there.

"The oldest civilization in the world and the youngest
Christian organization in the world have met together. Egypt
and Christian Endeavor have kissed each other, to adopt the
Oriental imagery of this country.

"Here under the very eyes of the 'far-seeing Sphinx' I
find a Christian Endeavor welcome and the Christian En-
deavor spirit. At last 'forty centuries look down' on this
child of less than sixteen winters.

"The foster-parent of Christian Endeavor in Egypt, who
has, so to speak, acclimatized the Society in the land of the
Pharaohs, is the Egyptian mission of the United Presbyterian
Church of America. Some two years ago, the first society
was started, and now there are three or four societies, includ-
ing at least one Junior society at Asyut, a long way up the
Nile, where is one of the chief stations of the Board. But
especially to Dr. White and Miss Thompson of the mission
should the thanks of all Christian Endeavorers be given for
introducing the Society and watching over its interests."*

From that day to this in the land of the Pyramids Chris-
tian Endeavor has made steady progress, and has developed
some peculiarly interesting characteristics.

For instance, there is a society in Alexandria especially

for young men, which makes a specialty of trying to win in a

social way Syrians and Copts, and even Mohamme-

Work dans and Jews, inducing them to mingle with Prot-

Egypt. estants and to study the Protestant religion.

"Already," says Miss Grace Chalmers Brown,
who writes most interestingly of Christian Endeavor in Egypt,
"prejudices have been removed, and gradually the young
men learn the sweet and simple truths of Protestantism. Al=

* From " Fellow Travelers."

Christian Endeavor in Africa.

403

404 Christian Endeavor in All Lands,

ready this society has proved itself a bulwark to the church."
"The Endeavor society in the Cairo boarding-school has
been influential in deepening the spiritual life among the
girls. The Egyptian girls have expressive and pathetic faces,
and to see them stand, a whole assembly of them, in a Chris-
tian Endeavor service, is one of the beautiful and interesting
sights of historic Egypt. An English-speaking society in
Cairo has long been in existence, and has been visited by scores
of English and American Endeavorers. But the most strik-
ing, and I might say marvellous, result of Christian En-
deavor effort to be found in Egypt," says Miss Brown, "is
in the Bulak quarter of Cairo. In this society were seven
young girls, all most active workers in Christian Endeavor.
They united in praying for special work among the Moham-
medans, and the result of months of secret prayer was a great
revival." The society has extended up the Nile as far as
Asyut, and is thoroughly intrenched in the fruitful mission
of the United Presbyterians.

The first Christian Endeavor society in Welt
West Africa was established in Lagos in 1897. It began

with only five members, and now has about two
hundred; and through its influence other societies have been
formed in the regions round about. It has sometimes been
objected to this mission that people in the home land (Ger-
many) do not understand the character of the negroes, think-
ing that they are only two-legged animals and cannot be ele-
vated, and it is useless to send missionaries to them. But it is
interesting to see how God has also used our black brothers for
the work of His kingdom.

Lagos is a city of ninety thousand inhabitants, with many
modern conveniences, such as electric light, the telegraph
and telephone, railroads, etc. At first the Christian En-
deavor Society attracted but little attention, but now its influ-
ence is very great. The pastor has found that the members

Christian Endeavor in Africa,

405

of his society are a great help in all the work of the church.
The young women of the society go out in little groups every
day in the week to visit in as many of the huts as they can and
speak with all the people; and not less than two hundred per-
sons have in this way been led to Christ. They have also
formed a mission circle to raise money for the work in the in-

Christian Endeavor Society of Lagos, West Coast of Africa.

terior of the country. In New Calabar and in South Nigeria
they carry the gospel to the market-places, and speak of Jesus
to the people gathered there. Some of those who formerly
were cannibals have come to believe in Christ. One Chris-
tian Endeavorer, who worked at first quite alone, has in this
way brought almost a whole neighborhood to receive the gos-

4o6 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

pel. Two officials of the European government have also
joined in the work and become active members, and serve the
society in many ways.

In Central Nigeria one of the chiefs has be-

An °

Endeavor comc a member of a Christian Endeavor society,
and enjoys wearing his badge. Through his influ-
ence other chiefs have been brought to Christ, and have built
for themselves and their people a chapel. In Ekiti a Chris-
tian Endeavorer gathered together nearly three hundred of
the natives, and taught them to read.

The following extract from a letter written by the secre-
tary of the Old Calabar society, a native of the Gold Coast,
gives an interesting glimpse of the work of Christian En-
deavor there :

"After I had been engaged five years in the service of the
government in south Nigeria I had a furlough of three
months. I intended to spend half the time in Lagos and half
in my home in Acera; but I changed my plans without myself
knowing why, and remained the whole time in Lagos. One
week after my arrival there I became acquainted with Dr.
Mojola Agbebi, who invited me to his house. Through fre-
quent visits there and in the Christian Endeavor society I came
to realize my great sinfulness, and turned to the Lord whom
I had forgotten for so many years. I became a member of
the Christian Endeavor society and a fellow worker. This
visit in Lagos was greatly blessed to me, and I returned to my
work with renewed health and energy, feeling as happy as
though some one had given me a very costly present.

"Dr. Agbebi had given me a Christian Endeavor badge,
and told me always to wear it, and to try to start a society in
Old Calabar. I had followed the first part of his advice, for
my badge always reminded me of the society which had led
me to Christ."

Another native government employee saw the badge,
and proved to be an Endeavorer himself. The trio soon

Christian Endeavor in Africa. 407

started a society, which speedily flourished, and thus the work
started in south Nigeria.

Many will be surprised to learn that the German Chris-
tian Endeavor Union is in copartnership with a church in
Kamerun. Naturally the Germans were much interested in
the development of Christian Endeavor in their colonies, and
last year they were rejoiced to hear that in one of the native
churches in Kamerun Christian Endeavor had made a
beginning. It is pleasant to learn that the Duala Endeavor-
ers are pushing the work with great earnestness and enthu-
siasm, and they themselves bear all the expense of the work,
for these natives in Duala are self-supporting. Surely with
such a beginning we shall expect to hear in the coming years
of good work and great blessings from Christian Endeavor in
Kamerun.
j^ About fifteen years ago a missionary was trav-

the elling with a Christian negro up the Congo, in

Congo. , , . . • • 1 1 f

order to plant a mission station in the heart of

Africa. They settled in Luebo, but before the young mission-
ary had learned the language God called him home. But
other missionaries pressed forward to take his place, and to-
day Luebo has a Christian community of more than a thou-
sand, and Ibange, a few miles away, has as many more. Be-
cause there were few missionaries they soon decided to train
up helpers by means of Christian Endeavor, and a society
was formed with about fifty members. All of these members
can read and write (the language was first reduced to writing
by the missionaries), and the Endeavor society in Ibange i<5
still larger. All of these young people are evangelists. They
go out to the neighboring villages, and hold prayer-meetings
and schools, visit the sick, and in many other ways sow the
good seed. Some of them spend only part of the day in this
way, and others go to distant villages, and are days and weeks
and even months on the way. The young women under the

4o8 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

leadership of two colored Bible women work chiefly among
the women and girls. And so it has come to pass that mission
work in this region depends largely upon the Christian En-
deavor societies. The committees of the society are exactly
adapted to the needs. The meetings of the society are "held
in the mission house, since kerosene is so expensive that they
cannot light the church. They have their song-book in the
Baluda language, and a short passage of Scripture and the
topic itself must also be translated for them. At the close of

How Some Christian Endeavorers Travel in South Africa.

each meeting every member reports briefly on the work he has
done.

One of the large societies of the world is at Jakusu near
the Stanley Falls. It began with six members, and now there
are 170 active members. The meetings of the society are
so popular that the bell which usually rings for other church
services is never necessary to call the young people to the En-

christian Endeavor in Africa. 409

deavor meeting. As the hour of the meeting approaches, peo-
ple come streaming out in all directions from all over the
town; and often there are between three and four hundred
present. In one year the society contributed more than three
hundred marks, most of which was given as a contribution to-
wards a new mission ship on the Congo. "Gott tut grosse
Dinge dort im dunkelsten Afrika," truly says the German
writer who sends the report of this interesting work in the
Congo.

Those who are interested to know how our pledge looks
in the primitive language of the Congo Free State will read
below a few words of it:

"Nandombe nzambi bukale Buandi. Ankalexe.
Ndi ngambila nzambi ne. 'Ntu nasua kuenza

MALU EBI BIMPE CENDELELE.

Nantendelele nzambi ku dituku."

It was in January, 1896, that different mission-
Liberia ^^y workers from several evangelical denominations
banded themselves together to promote the work of
the Christian Endeavor Society in Liberia, and to unite the
already existing societies into one union. The work pro-
p:ressed well. But before long it was interrupted. One
missionary was stricken w^ith fever. Death took away an-
other, and the work was given up. But the Lutheran mission
took up the movement; and it was soon progressing rapidly
once more, and is now making good headway. Many of these
Liberian Christian Endeavorers go two or three hours' jour-
ney through the thick, dangerous African "bush" to attend the
meetings each week.

In the Mpongwe dialect the name is translated "Nkumba
y'onanga wi Kriotyan," "the Society for Christian Earnest-
ness" or "Christian Enthusiasm." The pledge there requires

4IO Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

this addition, "I will read the Bible every day, or get some one
to read it to me."*

In Madeira, the "Island of Paradise," as it is sometimes
called, the first society was started in 1904. It has several
Portuguese members as well as English-speaking ones.
,j,^^ If Africa is the Dark Continent, it has a bright

Bright End end, whcre the Boers and British alike, though di-

of the . ' , , • . 1 • • ,

Dark vided on so many political questions, unite to spread

Continent. ^^^ knowledge of Christ and His kingdom through-
out all these vast domains. It is in this part of South Africa
that Christian Endeavor has won its largest victories.

The writer's first visit to South Africa, in 1897, was made
under somewhat discouraging auspices. Sailing from India
on a coolie ship, he landed in Durban after a long and lone-
some voyage; for he was the only white passenger on the ship,
and the voyage dragged through more than three weeks of
time. Though he found some earnest friends of Christian En-
deavor, both in Durban and in Johannesburg and Cape Town,
yet on the whole there was little enthusiasm for the cause. It
had started, especially in Durban, under somewhat unfavor-
able circumstances; and in some cases societies had been
formed that were Christian Endeavor in name only, with no
pledge and with some of the important features eliminated.
These naturally failed after a time, and made it all the more
difficult for new headway to be gained.

But the ardent Endeavorers of South Africa were not to
be daunted, and the last ten years have shown marvellous
progress. Very different was the state of things, in both
Natal and Cape Colony, that the writer found on a second
visit in 1904; and he will not soon forget a meeting that was

* The facts about the Society in the Congo and Kamerun, Lagos, Nigeria, and
Liberia are condensed from " Bilder aus dem Jugendbund in Aller Welt," the
excellent German history of Christian Endeavor, by the Rev. F. Blecher. The
work done by the Endeavorers of the Baptist mission in the Congo, and the story
of the Endeavour, the steamer which plies the Congo, and was built by the Baptist
Endeavorers of Great Britain, are mentioned in another chapter.

Christian Endeavor in Africa.

411

then held in the public hall of one of the great Dutch churches
in Cape Town ; for it was the most remarkable example of the
power of Christ to weld together estranged hearts in Chris-
tian love that he had ever seen.

It was soon after the close of the South Afri-

Marvellous can war. Feelings on both sides had run high,
in^* '"^ and there was naturally much political bitterness.
Cape Town, g^^ ^^ ^.j^j^ meeting came Boers and Britons alike.
The president of the Dutch union was the chairman of the

Executive Committee of the South American Christian Endeavor Union.

meeting, and presided most graciously. The president of the
English-speaking union gave the address of welcome.
Around the hall were the Christian Endeavor mottoes in both
languages, English and Dutch. We repeated together the
twenty-third Psalm, some in one language, and some in the
other. In the same way we joined in the Lord's Prayer, and

412 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

at the close all stood together and sung, some in Dutch and
some in English,

''Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love ;"

and with the benediction repeated in two languages the happy
love-feast adjourned.

Miss A. E. Bliss, of Wellington Seminary, a pioneer of
Christian Endeavor in South Africa, who has done splendid
service for the cause in South Africa, recently presented at
a rally of the Western Province Union an interesting histor-
ical sketch. In this she tells us that the first white society
was started in the Huguenot Seminary in Wellington in 1887,
ias one result of a visit to the United States by a teacher who
became very much interested in Christian Endeavor work in
her brother's church. But the growth was slow at first, and
we read of but few societies before 1896, though one was
formed in King William's Town in 1890, one in Graaf-Reinet
in 1892, and one in Stellenbosch in 1894.

That year it was found, at a Keswick convention held in
Wellington, that seven societies were represented; and a
union was formed, which grew to fifteen societies before the
end of the year. The Rev. Dr. Andrew Murray was chosen
president, and Miss L. Sprigg, the daughter of the eminent
statesman. Sir Gordon Sprigg, who was^^then the premier of
the Colony, was chosen secretary. These were indeed wise
choices. Dr. Murray, known the world around as one of the
saints of the earth, gained a standing and recognition for the
Society which no one else could have gained for it. Ever
since that day he has been the honored and beloved president
of the South African Union. Miss Sprigg was energy itself,
and gave to the cause several earnest years of service. Litera-
ture was sent from America, and was widely distributed; and
Miss Bliss, in speaking of the writer's first visit to South

christian Endeavor in Africa.

413

Africa, which he feared was a failure, is good enough to say
that it contributed much to the advancement of the cause.

Mr. George Kilbon, the son of a missionary to the Zulus,
was the first travelling secretary. When the war broke out,
the work of the societies was necessarily greatly interrupted,
and Mr. Kilbon returned to America, as there was but little
that he could do then.

Seventh National South African Christian Endeavor Convention at Durban, 1905.

But God brought good out of seeming evil, and one
jy^^ of the most interesting chapters of Christian En-

Boer deavor history is the story of the Boer prison En-

Prisoners

and deavorers in St. Helena, Ceylon, Burmuda, and

Their Work. Poj-^^g^i^ which wiU be found in another place.

When these young men came back to South Africa, they
entered with enthusiasm into Christian Endeavor work, re-
viving societies that the war had broken up, and forming new
ones, while some two hundred of them volunteered for mis-
sionary work, and went to schools at Worcester and Welling-

414 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

ton to be trained for special service. As the result, in part,
of the efforts of these former prisoners, the Dutch Union grew
even faster than the old South African Union, which was de-
pleted by the loss of many Dutch societies which joined the
Dutch Union. However, the cause of Christian Endeavor
has been advanced by this division, which at one time seemed
disastrous to the South African Union, and in the fall of 1905
357 societies were reported, of which 249 were in the Dutch
Union, and the numbers vv^ere constantly increasing.

Toward the end of 1904 the Rev. Carl Stackman, an en-
thusiastic Endeavorer of Connecticut, at the call of the South
African Union went out to be their field secretary. He has
worked with enthusiasm and zeal, and has endeared himself,
not only to Christian Endeavorers, but to other Christian
workers of South Africa. The Rev. Gerald Willoughby, of
Johannesburg, formerly a pastor in Cape Town, was president
of the union for two years, and did not a little by his vivacity
and untiring zeal to promote the cause. Miss Sprigg has
been succeeded by Miss Cleghorn of the Episcopal Church,
who is no less efficient and untiring in her efforts for Chris-
tian Endeavor. Indeed, the Society has been especially for-
tunate in South Africa in enlisting noble men and women in
its service.

Many names shpuld be mentioned, but one must on no
account be overlooked. Mr. Polhemus Lyon, an American
merchant residing in Cape Town, has by his generosity and
unfailing interest tided the union over more than one financial
difficulty; and by his sterling Christian character and his wide
reputation as a prominent merchant has contributed much to
its advancement in all parts of South Africa. The Dutch
Union, too, has enlisted the services of the most eminent pas-
tors in South Africa, such men as the Rev. Mr. Marchand of
Cape Town, the Rev. J. P. G. Meiring, of Johannesburg, and
others. There are now unions in the Transvaal, the Orange

christian Endeavor in Africa.

415

River Colony, Natal, and a Western Province Union, besides
flourishing city unions in the large towns.

The American missionaries in
Natal co-operate with the English En-
deavorers in the Natal Union, and are
often heard at their meetings. Already
there are the beginning of Christian
Endeavor among the Zulu churches.
Among the missionaries who have
done most for the cause, among both
the white people and the black, is the
Rev. Charles N. Ransom, an Ameri-
can Endeavor of great spiritual power,
who has communicated his zeal to
many others.

This chapter cannot better be
closed than by quoting the words of
Dr. Andrew Murray at one of the
earliest conventions, words which not
only show his Christlike and consecrated spirit, but strike the
key-note of Christian Endeavor for Africa and every other
land.

Rev. D. G. W. R. Marchand,

President, Dutch Reformed
Church C. E. Union.

"We must remember that we are saved that God may
work through us ; what we do depends on what we are. Keep
right with God, and He will use you. God must have you
every day and hour and moment to be able to make use of
you. 'Moment by moment' in touch with God is indispen-
sable."

CHAPTER XXXI.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR IN ASIA.

CHINA, JAPAN, AND INDIA HAVE CONTRIBUTED LARGE-
LY TO THE STORY OF THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
MOVEMENT, AS RELATED IN THIS CHAPTER.

" India's conversion will have been hastened by one gener-
ation, at least, through the coming in of Christian En-
deavor."

Rev. Jacob Chamberlain, D.D., India.
" With a century of the vigorous application of Christian
Endeavor principles in China, idolatry will be vanquished,
and temples will give place to churches."

Rev. H. G. C. Hallock, China.

HRISTIAN ENDEAVOR in Asia has greatly
added to the breadth and, if we may say so, to the
color of the movement. In this great continent
is nearly half the land surface of the world, and
more than half of the inhabitants. Here are
Endeavorers of every shade, from the high-caste Brahman
with regular Aryan features, to the blackest coolie of India.
In these lands there is more of picturesqueness in the En-
deavor conventions and meetings than in all the rest of the
world put together. Flaming banners covered with curious,
and to unaccustomed eyes cabalistic, characters; weird songs
and chants ; committees unheard of in other parts of the world ;
and a range of work undertaken which extends through all
the Christian Endeavor gamut, from the lookout and prayer-
meeting committees, to which we are all accustomed, to the
"graveyard committees" of India, and the "Junior finger-nail
committees" of Japan, are characteristic of Asia alone.

416

Christian Endeavor in Asia.

417

Workers of Various Nations.
Rev. I. Inanuma, Rev. James H. Pettee, D.D.,

Japan. Okayama, Japan.

Rev. George H. Hubbard,

Foochow, China.
The Late Rev. A. Miyake, Osaka, Rev. George W. Hinman,
Japan. _ China.

Rev. William I. Chamberlaii
Vellore, India.
Rev. Herbert Halliwell, Rev. Tasuke Harada,

India. Tokyo, Japan.

4i8 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Moreover, it is interesting to remember that Christian
Endeavor found one of its earliest homes in Asia. It flour-
ished as if indigenous to the soil ; for, though transplanted
from America, it is by no means a tender exotic in Asia.

Whether the first society outside of North America was
formed in China or Ceylon or Honolulu will perhaps never
be known with accuracy; for in 1884, only three years after
the beginning of the Society in America, when it was scarcely
known even there outside of New England, little Christian
Endeavor organizations were formed in all these lands. It
is quite probable that the Junior society in Ceylon preceded
the others by a few weeks or months.

The beginning of the work in both China and India has
been described in other chapters, and the continent is so vast
that I can only sketch in outline the wonderful and unique
developments in the great divisions of Asia. These divisions
naturally fall under three heads: the Mongolians of China
and Japan; the Hindus of India, with the allied races; and
the people of the Mohammedan countries that lie nearer
Europe.

Perhaps in no country in the world has Chris-
Christian ^j^n Endeavor been found to be better adapted to

Endeavor . . . .

in China. the people than in China. It fits their racial char-
acteristics. The Chinese Christians seem to under-
stand it intuitively. Their training in industrial and civic
guilds has fitted them to grasp the idea of the society with a
compact organization and a definite line of operations. For
a long time the strength of the movement in China was largely
confined to Foochow and vicinity, and even to-day it is
stronger there than in any other province. The father of the
society, the Rev. G. H. Hubbard, who, it will be remem-
bered, as a young missionary from Connecticut started the first
society in Foochow, is still actively connected with the work,
having been president of the union. In this province most

Christian Endeavor in Asia. 419

happily the Church Missionary Society co-operated with their
American brethren in advancing the Christian Endeavor
cause, and now in the missions of the two boards are nearly
150 societies of Christian Endeavor.

But the Society has a way of spreading when it once gains
a foothold. Like the religion of the Master whom it seeks
to serve, it cannot long be confined to any one province or
country, and very soon Endeavor societies began to be heard of
in the Presbyterian mission of Canton,* in Shanghai, and later
in North China.

Here it was that Christian Endeavor received its first
great baptism of blood in 1900. In the Boxer uprising scores
of Endeavor martyrs, as brave as any who shed their blood in
the first century or the fifteenth, died unflinchingly for their
faith. But they did not die in vain, for the whole Endeavor
movement has been quickened and made more heroic by the
noble martyrs of China. It was the writer's great privilege
to be in China just before the Boxer uprising. Only a few
Endeavor ^^Y^ before the railway was torn up, he journeyed
Martyrs from Peking to Pao-ting-fu, where one of the most
Boxer awful massacrcs in all those dreadful months of

carnage occurred. Here he saw the heroic Pitkin
and the no less heroic ladies, Miss Morrill and Miss Gould,
and the martyrs of the Presbyterian compound, and many of
the Christian Endeavorers who in another month had given
their lives for their faith.

In Peking he saw all the missionaries and many of the
native Christians who were shut up for so many months in
that awful siege, and he will never cease to thank God for the
lessons of unswerving Christian heroism which he there saw
exemplified.

*The Rev. A. A. Fulton, D. D., of this mission was particularly active in
Christian Endeavor work in the early days, both in China and during his furlough
in America, where he effectively urged the " two-cents-a-week " plan for missions.

420

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

In North China the Rev. William S. Ament, D. D., one
of the heroes of the siege, has been perhaps more than any
other one the leader of the Christian Endeavor forces,
though missionaries of almost every board have co-operated
heartily with him.* Indeed, this is true throughout China,

A Zigzag Bridge in China, Built to Confuse the Evil Spirits.

where all the missionary organizations are represented in the
Christian Endeavor movement, except the Methodist Episco-
palians of the United States, who have formed Epworth
Leagues and changed the name of their former Endeavor
societies.

* Among the many who have been especially helpful to the Christian Endeavor
cause in China should be mentioned Miss Emily Hartwell of Foochow, the Rev.
Dr. Fitch and Miss Mary Posey of Shanghai, Prof. Martin of the Church Mission
College of Foochow. Scores of other names are honorably recorded in the records
of Chinese Christian Endeavor.

christian Endeavor in Asia. 421

Though the China Christian Endeavor Union has ex-
isted for some years, no general secretary to give his whole
time to the work was appointed until 1902, when the Rev.
George W. Hinman of Foochow was chosen by the Union
to this position and his support was guaranteed by the United
Society in America. For more than two years he labored
untiringly and with great good judgment, as did his devoted
wife, in extending the cause throughout the Celestial Em-
pire.

The account of his trip to central China among the missions
of the China Inland Mission is unusually picturesque.
"Especially in the rarely visited interior," he says, "the pre-
sentation of the Christian Endeavor movement has awakened
the interest of the missionaries and native Christians in a way
that is indeed inspiring. Everywhere the name of Christian
Endeavor has been a guaranty of welcome and a rallying-note
for enthusiasm." Some extracts from the story of his visit
on this journey to Chen-cheo are of interest, not only as it tells
of Christian Endeavor activity, but as it describes some of
the little-known customs of the interior.

Secretary "A day's joumey from Cheo-kia-keo in the

PktuSque springless two-wheeled native cart, through ripen-
story of ing harvest-fields of wheat, small millet, buckwheat,
Travel. castor-oil beans, sweet potatoes, peanuts, cotton, and
sugar-cane, and we come in sight of the walls of Chen-cheo,
famous as the city to which Confucius was once refused en-
trance. For this reason the magnificent Confucian temple is
located outside the city wall instead of, as usual, in the finest
location inside.

"We were treated much better than Confucius, for a
little company of Endeavorers came out nearly two miles to
meet us, and welcomed us enthusiastically with greetings of
'Peace' and the waving of willow branches. But their wel-
come did not stop there, for in the absence of the lady mis-
sionaries of this station the Endeavorers had prepared every-

422

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

thing for our entertainment in the mission house, and fur-
nished all the supplies necessary, even to the coal for cooking
our meals. They meant to indicate the heartiness of their wel-
come, I imagine, by the thickness of the frosting they put on
the cake prepared for us. It went ahead of anything I had
seen before."

"Among the exercises [at the public meeting] was one
which might be called 'illustrated parables,' though many
other incidents in Christ's life besides the parables were sug-

The White Pagoda in Foochow.

gested and explained. A little girl came in with a Chinese
broom and paper lantern, and began anxiously searching for
the lost coin, while an older member explained the meaning
to the audience. Then followed a boy with five pieces of
Chinese bread and two paper fishes; a little girl with two big
cash to put in the treasury; a boy with a little lamb over his
shoulder; a sower with a bag of wheat, which he sprinkled
out over the audience; a little girl with a large glass 'pearl';
and a boy who held up a cotton serpent on a little cross. Each

christian Endeavor in Asia.

423

of these was explained by a different one of the older mem-
bers, and the whole arrangement and management of the pro-
gramme reflected great credit on the young president of the
Endeavor society."

"Our food at this and many other places along the route
was supplied from the menu of the inns, and generally con-
sisted of strips of dough boiled in a sort of oily pork gravy,
with scrambled eggs and unleavened steamed bread. Not
bad at all when you could get persimmons to go with it, and

Japanese Endeavorers at Osaka.

tea which was not made of willow leaves. The cost of our
entertainment you may judge from the following items:
Sleeping accommodations for each person, three cents a night;
eggs, cooked, three-sixteenths of a cent apiece; persimmons,
one-sixteenth of a cent apiece."

"The society at Shi-ki-tien is interesting on account of
some novel committees. There are the 'pure-body commit-

424 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

tee,' in the place of the common temperance committee, which
opposes all kinds of impurity; the 'heavenly-foot committee,'
which advocates the unbound foot; and also the 'heavenly-
union committee,' which in the Chinese way advises and
helps to arrange marriages of the Christians with other Chris-
tians rather than with heathen."

At the end of our first quarter-century there are about
four hundred societies in China, but the number is growing
so rapidly that these and other statistics from missionary lands
will be but "ancient history," and inaccurate ancient history at
that, before this book is published.

In Japan, as well as in China and India, Chris-
Society tian Endeavor has enlisted in its active interest some
'" of the most eminent of the missionaries and Tapa-

Japan. -' ^

nese Christians alike. Dr. James H. Pettee, well
known as a writer and poet, and with more than twenty-five
years of missionary experience in Japan to his credit, has
from the start been the leader among the missionary forces in
Christian Endeavor, and is to-day the treasurer of the United
Society in Japan, giving much time and thought and execu-
tive ability to the promotion of the cause. The Rev. Tasuke
Harada, one of the most eminent Japanese ministers, has been
from the beginning the president of the union, and another
Japanese minister is the travelling secretary, giving all his
time to promoting the work.

Though the Society has not seemed to meet the needs of
the Japanese Christians so strikingly or universally as it meets
the needs of the Chinese, yet the movement is on a most sub-
stantial basis, and is growing stronger year by year. At this
writing there are 140 societies, and the conventions are vigor-
ous, enthusiastic, and uplifting gatherings. Even war with
all its distractions did not interrupt the genuine progress of
the movement, and the last of the thirteen annual conventions,
but the first one to be held outside of Japan's four great cen-

Christian Endeavor in Asia.

425

tral cities, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, was the best of the
thirteen. It was held in Okayama, Dr. Pettee's home city,
and was bright with banners and vibrant with spiritual energy.
At this meeting it was decided to engage in special work in
behalf of Christian soldiers and their families, and
Interesting ^q Dush Sunday-school work more energetically,

Features ... .

In Japan. thus showing that Christian Endeavor in Japan does
not live for itself alone, but for the spread of the
kingdom of Christ through every agency.

The " Banner Convention " of Christian Endeavor
Held in Japan in 1903.

During the war several "Warriors' Families' Endeavor
Societies" were formed among the families of Japanese sail-
ors. The Empress herself, we are told, became interested in
the organization, and sent a generous contribution to its treas-
ury. The Endeavorers of Japan, too, joined in the work of

426 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

the Young Men's Christian Association among the troops in
Manchuria, and two of the three Japanese sent out to labor
among the soldiers were Christian Endeavorers.

How I wish I could introduce all my readers to a genu-
ine Japanese shimbokukwai, which is usually held in connec-
tion with a Japanese convention! This is a sociable of a dis-
tinctive Japanese variety, which cannot be reproduced in any
other land. The gay costumes of the Japanese maidens, their
bright eyes, and shy, smiling faces, the picturesque and dainty
lunches, reproducing oftentimes in various viands Fuji-
yama, or some other noted spot in Japan, the quaint poems,
half recited and half sung in old Japanese styles, with extrava-
gant gestures and in falsetto tones, and, above all, the radiant
good fellowship and wonderful courtesy which is such a
characteristic of the country, all combine to make the "shim-
bokukwai" the most memorable social feature of an Endeavor
convention that I have ever attended.

To show, however, that the Japanese conventions have
their due proportion of the devotional as well as of the social
element, let me take my readers to the top of a famous hill
behind the city of Kobe, where in the spring of 1900 the
national convention was held. Most of the meetings of the
convention were held in the churches of Kobe, but an early
morning prayer-meeting was scheduled for the top of this
hill, to be held in the pavilion of an old Shinto shrine.

Very early in the morning, almost before daylight, hun-
dreds of Endeavorers might have been seen making their way
up this hill, under scores and scores of beautiful "torii," which
indicate the approach to an old heathen temple. By the side
of the path were giant cryptomerias, their branches meeting
overhead. At six o'clock all had assembled on the top of
the hill, and the meeting began. Below lay the great city
of Kobe, just awaking from its slumbers, beyond lay the rip-
pling waves of the bay and of the open Pacific. At six

christian Endeavor in Asia.

427

o'clock the meeting began. The leader opened briefly, and
then gave the meeting into the charge of the assem-
bled Endeavorers. Beginning at one end of the
long line, which was facing the eastern sky, they
began to ofifer sentences of prayer. One after an-
other followed, until nearly a score had presented
their earnest petitions. Just at this moment the first beams
of the sun appeared over the eastern sea, and smote us full in
the face, and at that instant, without premeditation, one of

Sunrise

Consecra=

tion

Meeting

Japan.

fe' f

V^^ *S

A Japanese Women's Christian Endcavur Sueiety.

the Endeavorers began to sing in Japanese the old familiar
tune:

"The morning light is breaking;
The darkness disappears;
The sons of earth are waking
To penitential tears."

428 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

No one could have been in that meeting without realiz-
ing that in the Sunrise Empire, as well as in all the rest of the
world, the Sun of Righteousness was rising, the morning light
was breaking, and the darkness fleeing away.

To tell the storv' of Christian Endeavor in

The

Great India worthily would require a volume rather than

in a portion of a chapter, and yet the Society has only

India. begun to do its work. All the missionaries believe

that its greatest triumphs by far are in the future. In various
parts of the Indian Empire, fostered by missionaries who had
learned something of the Society^ in their home lands, socie-
ties began to spring up soon after the little beginning in Cey-
lon in 1884. But it was not until 1896, in connection with a
visit of the writer to India, that the United Societ}^ for India,
Burma, and Ceylon was organized, and systematic work for
Christian Endeavor throughout India began. This was a
somewhat portentous name for a new and struggling move-
ment that had then comparatively few friends throughout the
vast empire; but the faith of the missionaries and the native
Christians who formed the union was by no means small, and
they chose a name which showed the expansiveness of their
hopes, and which has well been justified by the results, for
Christian Endeavor is now found in almost ever\^ part of
India, Burma, and Ceylon.

It was not until nearly four years later that this Union
saw its w^ay, with the financial help of the United Society of
America, to employ a general secretary who should give all
his time to the cause. The Rev. Franklin S. Hatch, who
was then the beloved president of the Massachusetts Chris-
tian Endeavor Union, was chosen for this work, and spent
three fruitful years in India. He w^as especially successful
in commending the cause to the missionaries at their summer
assemblies and in their own fields, and travelled from one end
of India to the other, visiting Burma and Ceylon, and Kash-

christian Endeavor in Asia.

429

< .s

< -o

H a;

H.S

430 Christian Endeavor in All Lands,

mir as well, in the interests of the cause. When asked what
original ways of carrying on the meetings the Hindu En-
deavorers have, he told about a boys' meeting he attended,
where after a boy had spoken the leader would ask, "Boys,
does he live the way he has been talking?" Generally the
reply would be a "Yes" in chorus. Once, however, a boy
called out, "No, he told a lie yesterday."

At a large meeting of young women, when the hour was
nearly up, and only about three-fourths of those present had
taken part, the leader said, "All who have not yet taken part
may rise." Twenty-five or thirty rose. "When you have
taken part you may sit down," said the leader, who was an
Indian girl. Every one took part in that meeting.

Here is a strictly literal translation of the first part of the
usual pledge, put back again into English from a Hindu
translation.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR OF SOCIETY CONFESSION.

"Lord Jesus Christ on power for trusting, I promising
am that whatever He wishes that I do I its work of doing en-
deavor will, that I daily Bible-reading and praying my life
of rule fix will. And I my church of every way in helper re-
main will, especially every Sunday and week of middle serv-
ice in present being from, on this condition any such cause
interference not be to whom that I heart of purity with my
Saviour before ofifer not can, and that as far as I can I full age
Christian life to live endeavor will."

Mr. Hatch agrees with the other missionaries
among who havc Written concerning the matter that the

Ka^rens music of the Endcavorcrs in Burma is better than
in any other part of the empire, at least according
to Western standards of music. The Rev. H. I. Marshall,
an American Baptist missionary to Burma, writes interest-
ingly about a Christian Endeavor convention of the Thara-
wadi Karens, and especially of their singing.

christian Endeavor in Asia.

431

"The evening was given up to a concert. The Karens
love their hymn-book next to their Bible. I am not quite
sure but they are more attached to it than to the Bible. In
the old days of the Burman rule they were forbidden to meet
for worship. But under cover of the darkness they would
gather in the thick jungle, and read the Bible and pray. If
they sang then, they were sure to betray themselves. That
was the greatest hardship they had to endure. Many a time
did the muffled songs betray them to their persecutors. But

nm--^^

Street Scene in Calcutta.

this evening they have no such fear. They can swell the good
old songs that we have all known as I never knew a congrega-
tion at home to do."

Mr. Hatch tells an amusing story of the struggles of the
little boys of India to learn proper business methods of con-
ducting their societies. "How shall we elect oflicers?" asked
the Juniors of a large society in the famous Lone Star Mis-

432 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

sion of the Baptists. "Suppose you ask them to choose a nom-
inating committee," Mr. Hatch replied, "for I like to see the
boys and girls do their own organizing." They did so.
"One boy made an enthusiastic speech. I could see it was
enthusiastic, though I could not understand a word of it. He
ended his brief plea by nominating himself/'

In 1904 the Rev. Herbert Halliwell, a Baptist
cIiHstlan pastor of England, succeeded Mr. Hatch in the
Endeavor travelling secretaryship, as the commission of the

Secretary. ° j r i

first secretary was for only three years, and other
duties had compelled Mr. Hatch to return to America. Al-
ready Mr. Halliwell, as associate general secretary, has made
a large place for himself in the hearts of India Endeavorers,
and promises to have a long and most useful life in India.
He had already had experience in Africa as a missionary,
which will prove most valuable to him. The Christian En-
deavor central office has been removed from Calcutta, where
it was first established, to Allahabad. "My bungalow," he
says, "faces the Jumna River; across the river can be seen
a few scattered houses and a temple, whilst a few yards east
of my gates stands another temple; and a couple of hundred
yards north yet another heathen temple. If I take a walk
of less than two miles along the river-bank, I come to the
confluence of the Ganges and the Jumna, deemed to be one
of the most sacred spots in all India, where many, many thou-
sands of pilgrims assemble yearly to wash away their sins.
Comrades, what do these facts mean to you and me? How
do we contemplate intrenched, fortified, militant, defiant
heathenism? Here is Satan's stronghold. Arc we prepared
to do our share in overthrowing the kingdom of darkness
under the guidance of King Immanuel?" Surely Christian
Endeavor has come to India to answer this pregnant question.
Mr. Halliwell records the names of three new committees
of which he heard at a recent convention in the Punjab ; first,

Christian Endeavor in Asia.

433

a "stirring-up committee" (a specialized form of lookout com-
mittee) ; second, a ''graveyard committee," to look after Chris-
tian cemeteries and provide Christian burial; and third, the
"peace-making committee," whose name carries its own mean-
ing.

To mention the names of all the missionaries in India
who have done especially helpful work for Christian En-
deavor would be to record many of the most prominent of
them all. The Arcot mission of the Reformed Church of

Some Endeavor Leaders in India.

America first of all gave its hearty adherence to the Christian
Endeavor movement, and all its missionaries have been espe-
cially active in promoting the cause. Dr. Jacob Chamber-
lain, the veteran missionary and distinguished author, has
often spoken for the Society both in America and in England.
One of his sons, the Rev. William I. Chamberlain, has just
been succeeded by Rev. William Carey as president of the

434 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

India Union; and another son, the Rev. L. B. Chamberlain,
has been the honorary general secretary.

Madura has lone been another centre of Chris-
Madura tian Endeavor influence. Nowhere in the world
Marathi are morc enthusiastic or picturesque conventions
Missions. j^^j^ ^j^^j^ those in this city, where is found the
largest heathen temple in all the world. Dr. J. P. Jones, the
Rev. John Chandler, and others have long been prominent
in this work. Of late years the Marathi mission of the Ameri-
can Board has also been one of the chief centres of Christian
Endeavor in India. In Ahmednagar is the second largest
society in the world, with more than six hundred members,
so large, indeed, that it has to meet in nine sections, and is sur-
passed only by Dr. Russell H. Conwell's famous fourteen in
'the Baptist Temple. The eminent Dr. Robert A. Hume of
this mission has been president of the union, while his brother,
the Rev. E. S. Hume, and many other missionaries of this
Board have been active in the work. The same can be said
of the Lodiana mission of the American Presbyterians, which
has given Mr. Bandy and Mr. McGaw, Dr. Ewing and other
leaders, to the work. The Baptists, too, in the Bengal mis-
sion, and in Burma, and in the Telugu mission have been pio-
neers and leaders in their respective districts. No more effi-
cient editor for a Christian Endeavor publication is found
anywhere than the Rev. William Carey of Barisal, the editor
of Indian Christian Endeavour and the newly elected presi-
dent of the Union, while the Rev. Herbert Anderson, of Cal-
cutta, another member of this mission, has recently closed a
successful term of office as the beloved president of the India
Union. The Disciples of Christ have been particularly active
in the Central Provinces. In the United Society are now en-
rolled, as we close our twenty-fifth year, 613 Endeavor socie-
ties, while doubtless there are others not yet recorded; and
the future is bright with promise.

christian Endeavor in Asia.

435

In When we come to the Mohammedan countries,

meda™' though there are far more discouragements and
Countries, difficulties, yet we find an equally earnest and de-
voted band of Christian Endeavorers. It is impossible to ob-
tain exact statistics from Turkey, for in some sections of that
country no societies are allowed by law. But they have
plenty of Christian Endeavor, even if they have to spell it
with a small e. In Harpoot and Mardin, in Marash and Ce-
sarea, in Smyrna and Constantinople, in Erzerum and Van

Girls' Christian Endeavor Society in Marsovan, Turkey.

and other places, are earnest companies of Christian
Endeavorers. They show their faith by their works, too,
in Turkey as well as elsewhere; for we read of many such
instances as this: "In Marash the members of the society
in the First Church saved enough money among them-
selves to send a blind member to Oorfa, to be taught there to
read and other useful things, and then come back to teach
other blind children, as up to the present nothing has been

436 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

done for such unfortunates. They also intend to print some
books in Turkish for the use of the blind."

I have already spoken of the encouraging work in Persia,
in one district of which alone (Urumia) are found more than
fifty Christian Endeavor societies.

In Syria are recorded seventeen Endeavor so-
Syria cicties, some of the most active being found in con-

^"f .. nection with the Presbyterian mission at Beirut.
In Palestine, distinctively, are two or three socie-
ties. Miss M. Jennie Street in writing interestingly of them
says: "Above all, they learn first to show piety at home.
When one girl was ill of typhoid fever, she was wondrously
patient and gentle; and always her Endeavor visitors were
greeted with the eager request, 'Please read to me from the
Bible.' Another of the Endeavorers who was called to the
home on high, being dead, yet speaketh; and through her
gentle influence her brother, who was formerly rough and
reckless, has lately confessed himself on the Lord's side."
Here is the way the familiar hymn of Miss Havergal's, "Take
my life," etc.. looks in the Syriac when put into English
letters.

"Ihfath Hyatee leeyakoon,

Takreesha ya Rabbu lak;
Wahfath zamanee shakeeran

Feehe dawaman amalak."

As I close this chapter, which has already exceeded the
intended limits, I remember that I have not spoken of the in-
teresting beginnings of Christian Endeavor in the Nestorian
Church of Persia, or of the work in Siam and the Laos coun-
tries, of which I have had no recent record, though admirable
work has been done, especially among the Laos people. In
other parts of this vast continent, too, are the beginnings of
Christian Endeavor, which the historian of the next quarter-

christian Endeavor in Asia» 437

century will record, no doubt, with still more earnest thanks-
giving and praise to Him who during the first twenty years
of its existence in Asia has accomplished through Christian
Endeavor so much more than its most ardent friends at the
beginning could have dared to hope for or expect.

CHAPTER XXXII.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR IN THE ISLAND

WORLD.

WHAT GOD HATH WROUGHT IN THE GREAT ISLAND
CONTINENT OF AUSTRALIA, IN BEAUTIFUL NEW ZEA-
LAND, AND IN THE ISLANDS OF THE ATLANTIC AS
WELL AS OF THE PACIFIC, IS TOLD IN THE FOLLOW-
ING PAGES.

" Christian Endeavor of the best type means church
prosperity."

Rev. James Blaikie, Hobart, Tasmania.

" The estabh'shment of societies of Christian Endeavor has
proved to be of untold value to the church, and there are
possibilities yet untried in the movement for the culture of
the immature and undeveloped faith and character of the
Christian in struggling and isolated communities."

Rev. J. E. Neivell, Samoa.

|N island, after all, is but an indefinite geograph-
ical expression. The continents are big islands.
Some of the islands are small continents. But
for convenience in this history are grouped to-
gether all lands that are not included in the
mainland of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. Australia,
to be sure, is nearly as large as the continent of Europe, but
for the purposes of this history it is placed in the "island
world," and because of its size and importance and advance-
ment in Christian Endeavor deserves the first place.

The introduction of the Society into Australia, some of
her great conventions, and her admirable publications have
already been described. It remains to be told briefly how

438

christian Endeavor in the Islands. 439

into every one of the great states of the new commonwealth
the Society has quietly and unostentatiously, but most suc-
cessfully, made its way. The populous and wealthy states
of New South Wales and Victoria, rivals in everything else,
have also been generous rivals for the first place in Christian
Endeavor, each one, however, rejoicing in the other's vic-
tories and enlargements. Just now the centre of the official
work of the Australasian Union is in Sydney, though Mel-
bourne has much of the time been the residence of the presi-
dent and the general secretary.

Beautiful Adelaide, too, has long been a centre of Chris-
tian Endeavor activity for South Australia, as has Brisbane
for the great state of Queensland.

For a long time Western Australia was the:
In the Cinderella among the colonies. Even ten years

ago but little more than nfty thousand white in-
habitants occupied this vast territory^ clinging closely to the
settlements along the coast. But gold, the great magnet of
the nations, was discovered in Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie,
four hundred miles from the seashore, and the magnet was
strong enough to draw tens of thousands of people into the
most inhospitable wilderness in the world. Here in the
"Golden Mile" is found the richest piece of ground yet dis-
covered in all the world.

Happily others besides gold-seekers have sought these
shores, and these wonderful new cities of "the Gold Fields,"
where less than fifteen years ago was a howling desert, have
their Christian Endeavor societies and their Christian En-
deavor unions. So have the beautiful capital city of Perth
and the agricultural districts of the state as well.

In Tasmania, perhaps. Christian Endeavor has flourished
less than in the greater island; but here, too, it has a strong-
hold in many of the churches, and the last Australasian con-
vention, held in the finely situated city of Hobart, "the revival

440 Christian Endeavor in All Lands,

convention," gave a new impetus to the cause throughout this
smiling and fertile island.

In New Zealand the cause was not so fortu-
nate in its beginnings as in its greater brother Aus-
tralia. Some societies were started upon a basis
that did not warrant a long life or a very useful existence, be-
cause the members were afraid of the covenant pledge and
the stricter religious obligations of the Society. But these

New
Zealand

King William Street, Adelaide,
Showing the City Hall on the Right, Where the Convention Met.

faults have been largely remedied, and in Auckland and
Wellington and Christchurch and Dunedin and in other cen-
tres of New Zealand are also found vigorous centres of Chris-
tian Endeavor activity.

In some respects Australasian Endeavor stands pre-emi-
nent. Nowhere in all the world are the conventions sustained

christian Endeavor in the Islands, 441

year after year with greater enthusiasm and vigor. Their in-
tellectual standards are high, and their spiritual standards still
higher, while the eager responsiveness of the assembled thou-
sands is characteristic of the dash and the vigor with which
young Australians enter every phase of their life, whether in
business, amusement, or religion.

Among the most memorable months in his life the writer
counts the four which, separated by an interval of twelve
years, he spent in the Island Continent. On his first visit,
even before the steamer dropped anchor in Sydney harbor, he
saw a little steam-launch, coming out to meet her, flying a big
Christian Endeavor pennant, which was given to him, and
which he keeps among his treasured souvenirs ; and all the way
along, as he traversed the great stretch of two thousand miles
of coast from Sydney to Brisbane, and back again from Bris-
bane to Adelaide, the enthusiastic Endeavorers welcomed him
and his.

On the second visit he found Christian Endeavor mar-
vellously advanced in numbers, vigor, and efficiency. That
the early societies had not in any measure lost their first
love was shown at the conventions, which, though all of them
were "extras," not occurring at the regular time for the an-
nual gatherings, but called "Dr. Clark conventions," were
even larger and more full of spiritual power and human in-
terest than the first.

Some memories stand out with especial vivid-
The _ ness in my mind; the singing, for one thing, when

Singing t i i i % i • •

in i have heard ten thousand voices rmg out the

iT"'' chorus,

"!'. "Crown Him Lord of all;"

Civic ...

Welcome, the civic receptions, for another, when mayor and
councilmen in all parts of Australasia have wel-
comed us at stations or steamer, and afterwards in their coun-
cil-chambers, showing, as I felt, far more than a personal in-

442

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

terest — a real regard for the progress and welfare of Chris-
tian Endeavor.

The unusual devotion of some eminent business men as
well as pastors to the cause has also impressed me, and has
often urged me on to new personal endeavors when I have
seen such busy men as the Rev. F. E. Harry, the Rev. George
T. Walton, Mr. John B. Spencer, Mr. J. Neale Breden, Mr.
J. Neale Taylor, and others, of Sydney; Mr. W. G. Piper, of

Some Leading Christian Endeavor Workers in Australia.

Melbourne; Mr. H. E. Beany and the Rev. James Mur-
sell, of Adelaide; Mr. Ferguson, of Brisbane; the Rev. Silas
Mead, of Perth; Mr. T. Williams and Mr. J. B. Overell, of
Hobart, and scores of others whom I might mention, and
whose names it seems invidious not to record. I have seen
Christian Endeavor enthusiasm and whole-hearted devotion
in other lands, but never more wonderfully manifested than
in Australasia.

christian Endeavor in the Islands. 443

The Rev. Egerton R. Young, the eminent missionary to
the North American Indians, and no less eminent as a lec-
turer, writes: "I was greatly impressed with the splendid
character of Christian Endeavor in Australia. The societies
have settled down to solid, permanent work, and more than
ever are attaining the great object which the founder had in
view in its inception. The societies in the southern world
are in a healthy state from a spiritual standpoint."
Christian ^^^ Australian Endeavorers, too, have not for-

Endeavor gotten their Lord's command to preach the gospel
the to every creature, and they have begun near their

origines. ^^^ Jerusalem, by carrying the good news to the
aborigines at their very doors. Nothing has ever impressed
me more with the inherent power of the religion of Christ
to lift up the lowest and the most degraded than the society
that I visited at La Perouse, near Sydney. This is composed
wholly of "blackfellows," so called, the aborigines of Aus-
tralia, who are said to be the lowest and most degraded peo-
ple upon the face of the earth; so low, indeed, in their native
wilds, that they often live in what resemble nests made from
sticks and grass, rather than houses. Mothers sometimes eat
their own children. Yet here in La Perouse is a genuine and
vigorous Christian Endeavor society, officered by blackfel-
lows, and conducted by them entirely, under the supervision
of their beloved Christian Endeavor missionary. And when
in the great convention at Sydney, at the consecration-meet-
ing, I saw a little spot of black among the white faces in the
gallery, and saw the La Perouse society arise and repeat their
verse, and send down their word of welcome, "Mooyang
Gnilling," I felt that there was no Macedonia in all the world
which might not be reached and uplifted if only some one in
Christ's name would go over and help.

Another happy feature of the work in Australia is the
remarkable unanimity of Christian people in promoting it.

444 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

It has been before related how the great united Methodist
Church, the strongest in all Australia, has adopted Christian
Endeavor as its own child, and has never tried to drive it out
of the church family or supplant it with another.
Chnstian j^ some sections, too, the Church of England takes
'" , ,. more interest in the work than in almost any other

Australia. -^

land, and I have heard a rector of this church de-
clare In public that he liked the Society because it was not
like a safety-match that you could light only upon its own
box, and that the Christian Endeavor banner, with the sig-
nificant initial letters upon it, stood on church occasions for
Church of England, and on special Christian Endeavor occa-
sions for Christian Endeavor, and answered equally well for
both.

Many of the islands of the southern seas, as well as the
great Island Continent and its nearest neighbors, have proved

a fruitful field for Christian Endeavor. The Sa-
[," moan Christian Endeavor Union is an established

Samoa.

and forceful factor. Here is the title-page of the
first Samoan Endeavor publication:

O LE AU TAUMAFAI MO KERISO

O sina upu e faamatalaina ai lona uiga ma le Feagaiga ua

osia.

"mo KERISO MA LANA EKALESIA."

Na faatuina le sauniga o le Au Taumafai i Malua i le
aso e lo o lulai, 1890. Na fai le filifiliga, o le a faatasi ai le
Au Taumafai mo Samoa i se Faatasiga, Me 12, 1904.

"Ina o mai ia, se'i faatasi atu i tatou ia leova i le feagaiga e
faavavau, e le galo lava." (lere 1. 5)

SAMOA:

THE L. M. S. PRINTING & BOOKBINDING ESTABLISHMENT,

MALUA.

1904.

Christian Endeavor in the Islands. 445

The Rev. J. E. Newell, the president, founder, and chief
promoter of the Samoan Union, says that the title given above
means "The Endeavor Band for Christ;" underneath is the
universal rallying-cry, "For Christ and the Church," while
the title-page bears this historic note : "The institution of the
Endeavor Band was inaugurated at Malua on the tenth of
July, 1890. The Samoan Endeavor Union was constituted at
a large representative gathering on May 12, 1904." The
motto text is from Jer. 50:5. Then the manual goes on to
tell of the rise of Christian Endeavor, and especially of the
movement in the South Seas, Hawaii, the Loyalty Islands,
New Caledonia, the Caroline Islands, Samoa, the Tokelau,
Ellice, and Gilbert Islands.

The story of the Society in these multitudinous islands
of the southern seas is of peculiar interest, and often a note of
heroism and devotion to the death is sounded. Some of the
Endeavorers of the first society in the Samoan Islands went
out, literally with their lives in their hands, to preach the
gospel in the neighboring savage and cannibal islands, and
never returned.

Says the Rev. J. Hadfield of the work in the Loyalty
Islands: "The Society develops reliance, forethought, judg-
ment, and courage. It teaches how business and other meet-
ings should be conducted in an orderly and profitable manner.
It cultivates the faculty of effective public speaking, and opens
up a long vista of new ideas in the direction of representative
government. Certainly no outside force has come among
us since the first introduction of Christianity sixty years ago
that promises such rich and far-reaching results."

On the Caroline and the Marshall Islands are thirty-four
Christian Endeavor societies. In the latter a society is found
in every church.

Out of a total population of 6,092 in the Loyalty Islands,
before the end of the first quarter-century of Christian En-

446

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

deavor there were found to be 1,988 Endeavorers, who had

raised $8,000 for missions.

It will be remembered that the German Endeavorers

have just sent a missionary to the Caroline Islands to work
under the auspices of the American Board. An in-
teresting incident has just come from Dr. C. F.
Rife, the superintendent of Christian Endeavor in

these islands.

In the

Caroline

Islands.

Girls' School, Kohala, Hawaii.

"I want to tell you about one of the members of the Chris-
tian Endeavor society in Kusaiae. He is a deaf mute, the
only one on the island, and was considered not very intelligent
by the natives. I demonstrated that he could hear certain
sounds, and that his intelligence was as much as one could

Christian Endeavor in the Islands. 447

have who had such limited opportunities. About six or seven
years ago I told him by signs that tobacco was injurious for
him. He had been a smoker, and forthwith made a sign
that he would throw away the pipe. He has abstained from
its use to this day. Some time ago he joined the Christian
Endeavor society. A few weeks ago I was at the village
where he lives, the chief village on the island, and attended
their meeting. It was really pathetic to see this young man
stand, after a number had testified, and give his testimony.
True, no one understood a 'word' of what he said; for the
sounds might be called audible breathing, but it afifected me
more than any other. I told the people that they were his
Bible; for, although he cannot read a word, he watches them.
He knows they have espoused the cause of right, and seeks
their company."

The cosmopolitan character of Christian Endeavor in
Hawaii and one of the interesting meetings in Honolulu have
already been described. The recent growth there is some-
thing remarkable, and is due in part to the way in which the
Christian Endeavor method adapts itself to the Hawaiian's
idea of worship. "The older Hawaiians are too apt to mo-
nopolize all the time of the meetings," we are told. Alas!
this fault is not confined to Hawaii. To circumvent this ten-
dency and also to give as many as possible a chance to take
part in each meeting, the native societies are divided into
classes. These classes each contain from two to ten or twelve
members, who file out before the assembled society, and sing,
read, or repeat something either separately or together. Then
the meeting is thrown open for individual efifort. No won-
der the writer adds, "One rarely attends a dull meeting in the

native societies."
In the The societies in the Philippine Islands are

Tsiands'"^ naturally of especial interest to American Endeav-

orers. The Rev. Dr. S. B. Rossiter speaks of the
Society as of "almost universal extension." The Rev. Leon-

448 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

ard P. Davidson of the Presbyterian mission was one of the
pioneers of the work in these islands, and the first Christian
Endeavor superintendent He was soon called, however, to
his heavenly home, after but a few months of work. In Cebu
he left a few Endeavorers, however. The number has grown
to hundreds, we are told, not only in Luzon, but in the north-
ern and southern Visayan Islands.

"On the island of Cebu," says Mrs. Elizabeth W. Jan-
sen," the Endeavorers are stoned while holding their open-air
services and in their private devotions. Their assailants are
incited by the priests and protected by the police. When
threats failed to make them untrue, bribes are tried, some
having refused as much as five hundred dollars to renounce
their religion. The Endeavorers have been compelled in
their poverty to buy land for a cemetery; burial having been
refused their dead in a Roman Catholic cemetery." The
self-sacrifice of these Cebu Endeavorers is evidently very
great. Already they have built a church at Campestello, and
some are holding meetings in the home of a former insurgent
general, who is an active member. Their efiforts extend even
to the bandits in the mountains, some of whom, there is good
reason to believe, will soon renounce their freebooting ways
and become earnest Endeavorers.

In New Caledonia the French missions are established,
but here, too, are Endeavor societies, and we learn from Ac-
tivite Chretienne that the revival crusade has been under-
taken by the Endeavorers' going from place to place to win
back backsliders and to arouse Christians to win the uncon-
verted to Christ. Nearly five hundred persons have been
reached in this way in one campaign, and touching stories are
told of the return to the faith and to Christian living of those
who have been corrupted by the whites and their civiliza-
tion (?), and of the conversion of those who had never before
accepted Christ.

christian Endeavor in the Islands. 449

■In the great island of Formosa are some Christian En-
Formosa deavor societies under the care of Japanese Chris-
Mada2as= ti^^is ; and a Japanese army officer, who is also a
car. captain in the Christian Endeavor army, has repre-

sented Formosa at a Japanese national convention.

In the still greater island of Madagascar before the
French occupation were nearly a hundred Christian Endeavor
societies. By the change of government and the general in-
terruption of missionary work owing to the conquest of the
island, some of these were broken up; but the work has re-
covered to a degree, though recent statistics and reports are
wanting.

When we come to the islands of the Atlantic, we find a
wide and fruitful field for Christian Endeavor. The roman-
tic beginning in Jamaica has been followed by a steady and
constant growth, until from the statistics latest at hand we
find that there are 234 societies, of which 84 are Juniors, with
more than one thousand members. Jamaica is the gem of the
West Indies, and Jamaican Christian Endeavor is the Chris-
tian Endeavor gem of the Atlantic, so ^what should be more
appropriate than that the sprightly little monthly representa-
tive newspaper of the societies should be called the Christian
Endeavour Gem?

A pioneer of Christian Endeavor in Jamaica
Jamaica is the Rcv. Dr. Randall, who is also the pioneer of
fsiands^ the Disciples of Christ in Jamaica; and his son,
of the_ Mr. John E. Randall, the efficient and beloved sec-

Atlantic. r 1 T • TT •

retary of the Jamaican Union, has done more for
the cause than any other one. Giving up a generous salary
in the civil service of the island, he has taken the united pas-
torate of two colored churches which are under the care of
the Disciples of Christ of America; and this gives him even
more time than before for his loved work in Christian En-
deavor.

450

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Trinidad,

Cuba,

Bermuda,

Barbados,

Bahama,

Porto Rico,

Iceland.

Though Jamaica is by far the best-cultivated field in the

island world of the Atlantic, yet it is by no means the only

island where Christian Endeavor is established. The

island of Trinidad is an especially fruitful field

for Christian Endeavor. In many places in Cuba,

in Porto Rico, in the Bahamas and the Bermudas,

and in the Windward and Leeward Islands, there

are also societies. Haiti and Newfoundland each

have at least two good societies to their credit. In

Barbados is a good Endeavor union composed of flourishing

societies.

Even in Iceland the Society is not
unknown. One of the most interesting
and memorable meetings that the
writer has ever attended was in Reik-
iavik. It began late in the evening;
but it was still light and no lamps were

P. ^HHV needed, for one could see to read on

J^^^' .^^. those July nights until midnight in
Iceland's little capital. A large audi-
ence came together, and the speaker
had for his interpreter Miss Olafia
Yohansdotter, a lady who had added to
fine natural abilities the advantages of
much travel in England, on the Conti-
nent, and in America. She interpreted
most fluently what I had to say into
classical Icelandic, the language of the Sagas and the Eddas.
The audience which crowded the hall was attentive and sym-
pathetic, and at the close a member of the Icelandic parlia-
ment, or Althing, a successor of the old legislators of Thing-
valla, a thousand years ago, arose and expressed his interest
and earnest hope that Christian Endeavor might yet accom-
plish much for Iceland.

Miss Olafia Yohansdotter,-
Icelandic Interpreter.

christian Endeavor in the Islands. 451

The scattered farms throughout the island, and the ab-
sence of towns or even villages for the most part, make it im-
possible for Christian Endeavor to do its work in the usual
way throughout much of Iceland; but we already read of one
society, and there seems to be an unlimited field for Rural
Family Endeavor.

Though Great Britain really belongs to the island world,
her Endeavor societies have been treated in another chapter;
and it is only necessary to add that in the Shetland and Orkney
islands, in the Channel Islands, Guernsey and Jersey, in
Minorca and Majorca, in the Madeira Islands and the Azores,
the society has gained a foothold, and in some of them it is
an important factor of the religious life.

We are told in the Scriptures that the "isles shall wait
for" Him. Surely it is God's good pleasure that Christian
Endeavor in the islands of the sea shall prepare the way of the
Lord in the isles of every sea, which so long have been wait-
ing for Him.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR AMONG THE BOER

PRISONERS.

HOW GOD CAUSED THE WRATH OF MAN TO PRAISE
HIM BY DEVELOPING A WONDERFUL MISSIONARY
MOVEMENT AMONG THE BOER PRISONERS WHO
WERE DEPORTED TO ST. HELENA, CEYLON, THE BER-
MUDAS, AND PORTUGAL IS TOLD IN THIS CHAPTER.

" The Christian Endeavor Society has been, and is, a
great developer of stalwart Christians, pillars of the church,
consecrated young people who can be depended on for the
furtherance of any and all of the varied activities of Chris-
tian service."

Hon. John H. Mickey, Governor of Nebraska.

;NE of the most romantic and interesting chapters
in the annals of the first twenty-five years of the
Christian Endeavor Society is the story of the
development of the societies in the Boer prison
camps in St. Helena, Ceylon, Bermuda, and
Portugal. So thoroughly did the Society seem to meet the
religious needs of these expatriated warriors, so complete and
thorough was their organization in spite of the difficulties
they had to overcome, and so large results in the way of mis-
sionary activities and the evangelization of Africa have flowed
from their devoted Christian lives in the prison camps,
that the story will always be an incentive to heroism and re-
ligious zeal. I am indebted for these facts largely to the
Rev. Charles F. Mijnhardt, who was the president of the
Christian Endeavor union among the prisoners on the island
of St. Helena, and who obtained from his own observation

452

Among the Boer Prisoners. 453

there, and from accounts obtained from returned Boers in ttie
other camps, the details which are here given.

The societies were started even before the prisoners
reached St. Helena, for while they were encamped in Simons
Town near Cape Town, a society of ninety-one members had
been organized. But the removal of the prisoners to the vari-
ous islands compelled a reorganization when they reached
their destination. They met with many difficulties, since
many of the Boers had known nothing of the Society before
they reached the prison camp. Some thought the pledge was
too strict; others objected to the singing of hymns which were
not based on David's Psalms, or prescribed by the synod of
Dordrecht. So keen was the party feeling, indeed, that some
went so far as to aver that the society, although having an
outward semblance of religion, really had in view a political
object, inasmuch as it was suspected to be the intention of the
Endeavorers on their return to South Africa to choose from
their number the president of the Transvaal and the mem-
bers of the Volksraad.

But these strange misapprehensions were soon removed,
and "they began to learn," says Mr. Mijnhardt, "that the
Christian Endeavor Society was the one form of Christian
service subject to the church, that was needed in South Africa
and in the prison camps as well. We Endeavorers thank God
for our banishment, because it has brought us to know the
value of consecrated Christian service."

The

Societies For eight months the St. Helena society had

St. Helena. ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ meetings in the open air, often with the
rain beating in the faces of the worshippers and the
wind making it almost impossible to hear the speakers.
Afterwards they managed to rig up a "tin shanty" composed
of biscuit-tins and aloe poles. Those who know the aloe will
not recommend it for strength or durability. It is really a
soft pulpy mass, surrounded by a thin covering of wood; but

454 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

it was the only material available, and many a time this little
shanty rang with the praise of God.

As more prisoners came, more societies were needed to
give a chance for the expression of the Christian life in word
and deed. They had pledge cards printed at St. Helena,
but never seemed to have enough, the members came so fast.
The first societies were at the Deadwood camp, and were
made up of men from the Transvaal. But after a time an-
other large camp, formed mostly of Free Staters, was estab-
lished at Broad Bottom. Then they formed two local unions,
one in each of these two great camps, which were about seven
miles apart, while a district Christian Endeavor union united
the two; and the members visited each other alternately, once
in two or three months, to discuss the general business of the
union.

A convention was once held midway between the two
camps, though it was very difficult to get permission for the
large number who wished to attend. But, in all, 386 Endeav-
orers from both camps attended this convention, and discussed
very much the same topics as Endeavorers in England or
America — missions and the Quiet Hour, and the relation of
Endeavor to the church, and what more they could do for
their unconverted companions, and other similar topics.

In April, 1900, the first contingent was taken to St.
Helena, and two years later it was found that there were
eleven societies in the Deadwood camp and eight in Broad
Bottom, nineteen in all, with a total membership of nearly a
thousand. By this time they had managed to procure an un-
used cooking-shed, which, having been properly patched up
and also enlarged, would hold about two hundred. This they
called "Excelsior Hall."

Many a glorious meeting they had in it. The different
societies all met there on different evenings of the week, and
from Monday night to Saturday night the hall was never

Among the Boer Prisoners. 455

empty between six P. M. and nine P. M., for one meeting was
scarcely over before another lot would good-naturedly
squeeze in, receiving a warm hand-shake of welcome at the
door. Let me here quote a few of Mr. Mijnhardt's ardent
words.

The ^ "O, how we learned to know and love one an-

Sorrow'^^' o^hcr during those years of captivity! Once — it
at was midnight of the old year — we Endeavorers

Separation, gathered in our hall for a bit of prayer and
praise. We shed tears, many of us, but not at the thought
of our loved ones' being so far away from us. No, we
thought: 'Alas, these glorious meetings wil) one day have
to come to an end ; we shall have to separate^ and go out into
the cold world to fight alone. Here we have so much sweet
fellowship, such concord, such unity.'

"Just think of it; amidst all the hardships attendant on
the life of a prisoner of war, amidst all that one naturally
misses and even finds necessary, we are yet saddened at the
thought of having eventually to part from one another. Such
is the love of Christ shed abroad in the hearts of His children!

''Apart from our weekly meeting, we had a short prayer-
meeting of half an hour every morning at 6 and sometimes,
according to changes in camp regulations, at 6.30.

"I am sure that that early prayer-meeting helped most of
all to make our society a blessing. Those who attended could
always be reckoned on, and were always the most faithful
members. We had a different subject to pray for every day
of the week, for example, Sunday, the church; Monday, the
spiritual life; Wednesday, missions; Thursday, Christian
Endeavor societies, etc. We appointed a leader for each
day, and many a young convert there learned to pray and
speak in public for the first time. O, the solemnity of that
quiet half-hour, as we sang upon our knees,

" 'I believe God answers prayer;
I am sure God answers prayer;
I have proved God answers prayer,
Glory to His name!'

456 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

"We would come forth strengthened and refreshed. In
those meetings we often spoke of the importance of the 'Quiet
Hour,' and many a one would go back to his hut or tent to
spend another hour with God and his Bible before commenc-
ing the duties of the day."

We are also told that a "Lending-Hand Workers' Ge-
nootschap" was formed, meaning a society where different
kinds of articles were made by the Endeavorers, such as pen-
holders, bone brooches, boxes, etc. These were sent to the
colony and sold for fifty-eight pounds. "If, therefore, a
young man got up in the meeting and waxed eloquent on
missions," we are told, "wishing he could fly that he might be
there at once, we merely asked him to come and prove his sin-
cerity by lending a hand at the turning-lathe or by polishing
a piece of wood."

The Endeavorers also erected a cafe, whose
How sign-board bore this legend in Dutch:

They

'CAFE, RESTAURANT, AND STORE

Raised ' ^^^^^•^'-^ ni\i,

Money. Jn aid of the suffering women and children

In South Africa."
Here they sold tea, coffee, and cake at a penny, such articles,
also, as cofifee, sugar, and milk, and cleared thirty-five pounds.
Through the sale of envelopes and stamps thirty-seven
pounds more were raised for the widows' and orphans' fund.
They also conceived the idea of erecting an orphanage on
their return to South Africa, to be called the "Christian En-
deavor Orphanage of Transvaal and Orangia." The spirit
of this plan has been largely carried out in the support of an
existing orphanage near Johannesburg.

In the prison camps of Ceylon the same zeal and enthu-
siasm were manifested as in St. Helena. Here ten societies
were formed with a membership of eight hundred. Once in
three months they were allowed to have a united meeting,
when all the societies met to discuss the subject for that week.

Among the Boer Prisonerse 457

"What a wonderful sight it was," writes one of the number,
"to see so large a number of zealous Endeavorers and to hear
eight hundred voices roaring out a hymn like so many can-
non! No wonder that one felt like another man after such
a meeting. Often I would hear some one say: 'How the time
simply flew!' 'For my part he could have continued as long

again, and talked another hour.' 'How beautifully
Prfsoners we worked together!' "
jp I Many of the prisoners in Ceylon had had but

few educational advantages, and great pains were
taken to supply such deficiencies. Here, as on St. Helena,
bearded men thought it no shame to attend school, learning
their texts as any boy would. The literature committee of the
union distributed books, and saw to it that they were read;
and most of the Endeavorers were eager to attend the day-
school and the Sunday-school. In one of the classes the ques-
tion was asked, "Who discovered America?" The reply
came promptly, "Saul, sir." "Let this not be taken as a stand-
ard of our intelligence, however," writes one of the prisoners,
"since many English soldiers, believed, as one of them said to
us, 'We thought yous fellows was all black.' "

A boys' home was established by the Endeavorers, where
orphans and neglected ones were taken in and cared for. In
the same hut the "Albion printing-press" afterwards turned
out a little weekly paper called De Strever (The Endeav-
orer) and for nine months it appeared regularly. The sub-
scription-price was ten cents a month, and the editor was soon
able to send the profits to the women and children in the con-
centration camps.

Six of the 365 islands of Bermuda were occu-
Bermuda pi^^l by the Bocr prisoners of war, and each island
!L"^, , had its Endeavor society, with about five hundred

Portugal. -^ ' .

members in all, not counting the children, of whom
more than two hundred were organized into a Junior class.

4^8 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Every evening family prayers were held by the Endeavorers,
and every morning there was an early prayer-meeting.

A little Christian Endeavor paper was also published,
but the societies were so scattered on different islands that they
had no opportunity for a convention, which proved so help-
ful in other camps.

To Portugal a thousand men were taken from Delagoa
Bay, all of whom when they started, save about thirty-five,
were sick. Some died on the way to Portugal, and there were
comparatively few earnest Christians among those that reached
the prison camp. These commenced a prayer-meeting, which
was held twice a week. Very soon, we are told, "God's Sprit
began to convict of sin; many turned from their evil ways;
and the first night as many as seventy gave themselves to God."
In the early morning one could hear the men earnestly pray-
ing among the rocks. An Endeavor society was formed, and
eighty joined at once. The society worked under great diffi-
culties, for the members had no convenient place in which to
gather; so they resorted to the rocks. But this gave them a
fine opportunity for personal work, and it was quite usual to
see the members of the various societies conversing with the
unconverted in quiet nooks.

The social committee did good and effective work in wel-
coming new arrivals or visitors from one of the other camps.
Little more than a month had passed when the 80 had
become 183. This was in the camp at Peniche. Another one
was at Caldas da Rainha. Here there were 70 young men
who might be reached, and the society began with a member-
ship of 25, but the Endeavorers did not rest until they had
captured 64 out of the 70. Some of the members who had
mastered the Portuguese language preached Christ among
the inhabitants. After a little more than a year the Boers,
men, women, and children, bade farewell to the shores of
Portugal. Many of the Portuguese had become sincerely at-

Among the Boer Prisoners. 459

tached to them, and bitter tears were shed. One man brought
a Portuguese lady with him, had the bans published in one of
the Dutch churches of Johannesburg on reaching home, and
now is happily married. Some women were transported to
this camp, together with their fathers and brothers; and more
than one little romance which happily ended can be traced
back to the prison camps of Portugal and the Bahamas.

But the sequel to this story of Christian En-
Wonderfui dcavor in the Boer camp is the most remarkable of
eque . ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ their captivity to arouse a won-
derful missionary spirit among them such as had never been
known in South Africa before. Missionary subjects were
favorites in the Christian Endeavor meetings in prison.
Though they had exceedingly little money, a tithe, often a
fifth, of what they earned by whittling out bone Christian En-
deavor badges and other trinkets was set apart for mission-
ary use.

In the societies in Portugal a missionary meeting was
held once a month, and twelve declared themselves ready to
become missionaries on their return. In St. Helena 60 vol-
unteered for missfonary service while in camp, and alto-
gether 175 young men dedicated themselves to the service of
God as missionaries wherever He should send them.

The whole attitude of many toward the natives was
changed during their imprisonment. One bright young fel-
low said during a meeting, "I used to try to ride over the little
Kaffir boys on our farm with my horse, and once I actually
did override one; but, if ever I should meet that little boy
again, I shall take him with me on the horse, and tell him how
Jesus loves him." "I unhesitatingly assert," writes Mr.
Mijnhardt, "that the Christian Endeavor movement among
our prisoners contributed largely towards making these men
realize their responsibility towards the heathen. Missions
had with us a most prominent place in the society. Our sub-

460 christian Endeavor in All Lands,

jects were often missionary subjects; but, more than that, we
began to do something for missions."

Sixteen young Kaffir boys who had been captured with
the Boers were transported to St. Helena. They were taught
to read, and soon they began to pray in their own language in
the meetings. We can well imagine that "it had a tremendous
meaning for the young Endeavorer who had not much en-
thusiasm for missions to go to those Kaffirs, and read and pray
with them."

The mission-study classes, a missionary man-
Their ual-labor society, which sold its products for eighty

Return. pounds, the missionary books that were read, and
the missionary collection-box which was often passed, all had
a great influence in stimulating the missionary zeal. On their
return to South Africa these 175 young men began to fit them-
selves by hard study for missionary work. The missionary
institute for their training was established at Worcester, Cape
Colony; and the Drostdy, which used to be the residence of the
local magistrate, or Landdrost, during the time of the Dutch
possession of the colony, was purchased for ten thousand
pounds by the representatives of the Dutch churches. The
missionary spirit had come to pervade all the Dutch churches,
as well as the prison camps, and they gave most generously
for this new institution. Moreover, more than two hundred
promises were received within a few months to pay for the
cost of the board, lodging, and schooling for one missionary
candidate at twenty-four pounds a year, so that all the 175
Christian Endeavor volunteers among the prisoners were more
than provided for.

The young men in the institute, however, do not rely
upon the gifts of the churches altogether, but spend as many
hours in manual labor each day to support themselves as they
spend in study. A number of these will not be able to do
much in the way of mental development, we are told, being

Among the Boer Prisoners. 461

already too old, and not having had educational advantages
when young. But all can do something for the natives of
Africa, and some of those who could not go as educated mis-
sionaries have gone to the far interior as missionary farmers."
The report of the proceedings of the opening of this mission
school ends with these glowing words of good cheer:

"So the proceedings of the never-to-be-forgotten days
came to an end, days which are the beginning of what we
believe to be a new epoch in the mission history of our be-
loved Dutch Reformed Church. That a light may have been
lit at Worcester that will penetrate into the dark heart of
Dark Africa ever remains our earnest prayer. To the Lord
be thanks, to Him the honor, from Him the expectation."

CHAPTER XXXIV.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR AFLOAT.

THE FASCINATING STORY OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
UPON THE SEA AND ITS REFLEX INFLUENCE UPON
THE ENDEAVORERS ASHORE.

" Floating Christian Endeavor has demonstrated its possi-
bilities. For a period equal to four enlistments of three
years each it has won its trophies for Christ afloat. Hun-
dreds of sailors have through it been pointed to the ' Lamb
of God which taketh away the sins of the world.' Its gradu-
ates are to-day preaching and living the gospel in all parts
of the world.

" Missions to the sailors have been tried for many years
with meagre results. Now let us build up and strengthen
this mission of the sailors to their comrades. And soon the
time will come that wherever flies our flag afloat, the grander
banner of the cross will also soon spread its snow-white
folds."

Chaplain Robert E. Steele, U. S. Navy.

NE of the most interesting developments of Chris-
tian Endeavor, and one of the most surprising, is
its work upon the sea. No one would have been
bold enough to predict twenty-five years ago, or
even in more recent years, that the Society had a
mission, and a large one, to sailors.

That a society which seems so peculiarly wedded to a
local church, with its pledge of constancy and its forms of
service, many of which, from their very nature, can be per-
formed only upon dry land, should find its place on ships of
war and merchant vessels, and thus go into every harbor of the

462

Chrstian Endeavor Afloat. • 463

world is indeed surprising. It is only another illustration of
God's guiding hand, and of the flexibility of the Society and
its adaptability to all classes and conditions of men. The
pledge stands for a general principle. It means loyalty to
Christ and His service, wherever and however that service
can be performed, and the specific promise of devotion to the
local church and the work and meetings of the society means
only that that is the way in which most young people can best
do what "He would like to have them do."

The sailor boys have evidently found an especial pleas-
ure in the link which the Society affords between them and
their Christian companions on shore. Through it they have
received letters of cheer and comfort from many an Endeav-
orer, and more material, but no more real, tokens of good will
in the shape of comfort bags, calendars, and the good things
of Christmas and Thanksgiving, and have often been enter-
tained most generously by the Endeavorers on shore.

The first Floating Endeavor society was organized on the
United States revenue marine steamer Dexter in 1890, and
since then more than two hundred such societies have been
started. Some of them necessarily have but a short life, for
the sailors are changed from ship to ship; their terms expire,
or for other unavoidable reasons the societies are often broken
Floating ^P ^^^ must be frequently reorganized.
Societies However, on many famous ships Floating En-

Famous deavor societies have been organized. Among the
^^^' victims blown up in Havana harbor on the Maine

were members of a Floating Endeavor society. There
was an active Floating society on Admiral Dewey's flagship
Olympia when she entered Manila Bay on that memorable
first of May, 1898, and many Endeavorers were found in
Sampson's fleet at the battle of Santiago. There was an En-
deavor society on the famous Oregon in her historic journey
around Cape Horn to take part in the battle for Cuba's free-

464 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

dom. On H. M.S. Powerful was another society of marines,
whose members were drafted into the South African war, and
who fought in the siege of Ladysmith.

In the late war between Russia and Japan in the Japa-
nese navy were Christian Endeavorers, and multitudes of
other brave Jack tars on less conspicuous ships plying in peace-
ful waters in the commerce of the nations have belonged to
floating Endeavor societies.

On the United States revenue steamer Gallatin, which
was wrecked on the New Hampshire coast a number of years
ago, was a Floating society. Many poor fellows went to the
bottom. One of the rescued sailors said afterwards that he
lost every prized possession that he had, except his Chris-
tian Endeavor badge, and that was pinned to his shirt. An-
other mourned that he had lost his pledge card; but, said he,
"I have not lost my pledge, for that is engraved upon my
heart."

One of the most interesting developments of Floating
Christian Endeavor, paradoxical as it may sound, is found
upon the shore, in the great Japanese port of Nagasaki. Here
some ten years ago the United States warship
Endeavor Charleston was lying at anchor. On board was a
Nagasaki vcry active Christian Endeavor society, whose
leader was one Carlton H. Jencks, one of the most
remarkable and gifted young men who ever went to sea. The
boys of the society soon found, when on shore leave, that there
was no place in all the great city of Nagasaki where a decent
sailor could get a meal or a night's lodging. There were re-
spectable first-class hotels, but these were beyond their means.
All the other places were low dives and dram-shops, and one
street where these were especially numerous in Nagasaki is
known to this day as "Bloody Street."

The Christian Endeavorers said, "These things ought not
so to be, and we are the boys to make them better." So they

christian Endeavor Afloat.

465

466

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

"passed the hat" first among themselves, and by mortgaging
their wages in the future raised in cash and subscriptions, it
is said, six hundred silver dollars. Then they could go to
others with a good conscience, and ask for more; and their
comrades and officers and friends on the shore contributed
enough monev so that they were able to purchase a commo-

John Makins,
Manager of the Christian Endeavor Seaman's Home, Nagasaki, Japan.

dious building, which they christened the ''Christian En-
deavor Seaman's Home" and pu,t it under the control of a
board of Nagasaki missionaries. Now this plant is worth
ten thousand dollars in gold.

christian Endeavor Afloat.

467

John

Makins's

Work.

In one year this home furnished more than ten thousand
meals to sailors and nearly three thousand lodgings. Fifty-
six meetings were held with a large aggregate attendance.
The home has a good reading-room, a dining-room, a soda-
water fountain, which is largely patronized in that steamy
climate, baths of all kinds, and bedrooms; and the writer can
testify, from a personal visit, of its cleanliness, comfort, and
excellent management.

In one of the dormitories is a large picture of Carlton
Jericks, the moving spirit in the founding of the
home, who met an untimely death with hundreds
of others on the ill-fated Maine, when it went to the
bottom in Havana harbor. Mr. John Makins has been the
most efficient manager of the home during most of its exist-
ence, and when, after a residence in America, he returned re-
cently to his loved work, he was received with great enthu-
siasm.

Miss Antoinette P. Jones has been
assiduous from the beginning in pro-
moting the interests of Floating Chris-
tian Endeavor, of which department of
the work she is the superintendent.
She is unwearied in her efforts, and is
a most voluminous correspondent,
writing to sailors in all parts of the
world, encouraging them in all their
endeavors, and keeping them in touch
with their friends on shore.

Mr. J. M. Wood, of the Brooklyn
Navy Yard; Chaplain Steele, formerly
of Hampton Roads, and later of Bos-
ton ; and many others, have done yeo-
men's service. Chaplain Steele is es-
pecially interested in the Society because, as he says, "it

Antoinette P. Jones,

Falmouth, Mass.

468 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

is the only distinctly religious effort for the sailors of the
navy." The Young Men's Christian Associations are doing
most admirable service, but on the sea are largely social in
their functions. Christian Endeavor in the navy insists upon
outspoken religion, and the badge which sailors are proud to
wear, though they are often ridiculed by their companions
for wearing it, stands for "Christ Exalted" there as every-
where else.

On the new Maine, which has taken the place of the
wrecked ship of the same name, is also a flourishing society.
One of the boys at a recent meeting has told how their ship-
mates sometimes scoff at them when they see the badge of
Floating Christian Endeavor, calling out, "Floaters, float-
ers!" The Endeavorers take the chaff good-na-

Floaters ^

and turedly, and respond, "Well, it s better to be a

floater than a sinker, anyway."

Miss Jones has written many interesting accounts of the
Floating societies and their work. In the marine corps espec-
ially the society seems to flourish. She tells how the sailors
have helped the missionary work in distant Guam, going to
the meetings of the society on shore, as well as maintaining
their work on shipboard. A Floating Endeavorer on the U.
S. S. Newark declares that he has found out only since going
into the navy that "it is not enough to be just 'not a bad fel-
low,' but that God wants us to be all in all for Him," while
another sailor writes: "A friend started me travelling on
the right road. He would take me in one of the small boats
of the ship, get his Bible, and read and talk with me; and in
that way I was converted." Often this personal directness
of Andrew and Peter is repeated in the experience of our
sailor boys.

A simple little story that illustrates the trials as well as
the opportunities of Floating Endeavor comes from Liver-
pool, where there is a flourishing branch of the Floating So-

christian Endeavor Afloat.

469

ciety, and it relates to a vessel in the Mediterranean fleet of the
Royal Navy. One of the sailors writes :

"In our line of life we are liable to be called on at any
hour of the day or night to do work which is not always of
a very pleasant nature. One night one of our people, a
Christian, had a job to do on a boiler, which was lighted up.
Everything did not go on very well, and burnt fingers were
the order of the day (or night). Instead of using bad lan-

Floating Christian Endeavorers, U. S. Cruiser Chicago.

guage, he sang a hymn and smiled. The job was finished and
forgotten ; but some time afterwards a stoker who was on
watch at that time came out on the Lord's side. Afterwards
he told us that he first began to think seriously on that night
when our brother kept his temper. It was something new to
him, and he wondered how it was; and now he is one of our

470 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

brightest believers. So much for what may sometimes ap-
pear trifles to us. There are no trifles with God."

The reflex influence of Floating Endeavor, like that of
missionary Endeavor, is good for young people on shore,
where their activities have been engaged and their sympathies
aroused for their brethren on the sea. In many ports meet-
ings have been held for the sailors, ships visited regularly
whenever in port, reading-rooms provided, and all sorts of
kindly things done for those who go down into the sea in
ships. San Francisco, San Diego, New York and Brooklyn,
Boston and Liverpool, Chicago and Bufifalo, and ports on the
Great Lakes have shared in these generous ac-

Shore ,• •-•^o.

Work tivitieg.

I****.! Mr. Giles Kellogg,, an earnest laborer among

the sailors on the Pacific coast, has written most
interestingly concerning the work as he has seen it. He tells
of one sailor on the British ship Senegal who was brought in
chains into a California port in mutiny. After reaching shore
he went to the Christian Endeavor meeting in San Diego, and
there expressed deep repentance for the past, and yearning for
pardon. Soon he entered upon a course of training as an
evangelist, and went to work among the men of the fishing-
port of Milford Haven in England. Pulling about among
the vessels in the harbor and visiting them in turn, he has
been the means of leading many to accept the Saviour whom
he found.

Christian song has been greatly blessed to the sailors,
who love to hear the sweet voices of fair Endeavorers, from
whose society they are so completely shut out for the most of
their lives. Among those who have given themselves to this
work is a niece of the Hon. John D. Long, the late secretary
of the navy.

"When the sympathetic contralto notes of Miss Long's
voice," we are told, "sang the simple and heart-touching

Chrstian Endeavor Afloat. 471

gospel appeals, many were noticeably affected. As the
singing went on, and a verse of 'Are you coming home to-
night?' was given, a card was passed along from the midst of
the seamen, on which was written the name with words say-
ing that a mother's prayers were answered, and that her boy
was coming home to God that night."

Miss Long was not spared for many years to continue to
sing the gospel, but after the event just described her life and
means, we are told, were given to public evangelistic singing
for Christ, not only on the Pacific coast, but on the Atlantic
coast as well.

The Endeavor launches at San Diego, at Vineyard
_, . ,. Haven, where Captain Edwards has been such a

Christian ' ^

Endeavor powcr for good among the sailors, and at many

Launches. 11111 r

Other places have been real steam messengers of
the gospel, which they have carried to a multiude of hardy
men who sail the seas.

Often the sailors return the compliment by visiting the
Endeavorers at home in their meetings or social gatherings,
where they do quite as much good as they receive. I have
never seen the attendants at a staid New England prayer-
meeting so moved and intensely interested as by a visit of
twenty Floating Endeavorers from the new Maine, which was
then in the Charlestown Navy Yard. As one after another the
sailors rose and told of their meetings, of their joys and their
trials, the ridicule they endured and the peace they found in
the service of Christ, there was such a touch of reality and
sincerity in all that they said that Christianity seemed a new
thing, and a very genuine thing to all who heard them. As
never before, these Christian people and thousands of others
who have come in touch with Floating Endeavor have learned
to sing with feeling that noble hymn, "For those in peril on
the sea":

472 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

''Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidst the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep ;
O, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.

"O Trinity of love and power.
Our brethren save in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea."

CHAPTER XXXV.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR IN SURPRISING

PLACES.

A SCORE OF STATE PENITENTIARIES, DEAF AND DUMB
ASYLUMS, AND SCHOOLS FOR THE BLIND, LIFE-SAVING
STATIONS, AND BUSINESS HOUSES WOULD SEEM TO
BE STRANGE PLACES FOR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SO-
CIETIES. HOW THE SOCIETY FLOURISHES IN THESE
PLACES IS HERE TOLD.

" Christian Endeavor is not only reaching out, but is
reaching in. It has penetrated the darkness of prison cells
and sounded the glad signal-note of pardon, and sin-bound
men can be heard crying out in the midnight of despair, as
did the Philippian jailer, 'What must I do to be saved?'
Many prisoners have been made free indeed through the
glorious gospel of the Son of God."

Mr. Frederick A. WalUs, New York.

" Christian Endeavor is working a wonderful reformation in
the Eddyville Prison. Many men whose lives were blackened
by sin and crime are now serving God zealously on Christian
Endeavor committees to bring their fellow-prisoners into this
sweet and blessed pardon. Remarkable as it may seem, not a
single released prisoner who was active in the prison Endeavor
has been brought back for the second term. Only eternity can
reveal the wonderful workings of Christian Endeavor here.
God help you to plant a Christian Endeavor society in every
prison in the land."

" Your Christian Endeavor Comrades

of the Eddyville Prison."
Convention Message from a Prison Society.

473

474 CKristian Endeavor in Surprising Places.

ROM the beginning Christian Endeavor has been a
surprise; a surprise in its ready acceptance by the
Christian public, in its rapid growth, in its great ^
conventions, in its adaptability to all foreign cli-
mates and conditions of life, in its development
of new features just when they were most needed, in the
persistence of original principles, which are found as ef-
fective to-day as when they were first promulgated, in the
staying power which usually makes the oldest societies, ex-
cept when occasionally frozen out by pastoral indifference
or ecclesiastical hostility, even more effective than when first
organized.

Other chapters have told of surprising places in almost
every continent, where Christian Endeavor has found a
home. This chapter adds to the list some striking illustra-
tions, which might be almost indefinitely multiplied.
Christian Who would have thought, for instance, at the

Endeavor beginning that there was any place for a Christian

in . . 1 • <• o

State Endeavor society among the convicts of our State

prisons? Yet some of the largest and most devoted
societies in the world are found in the penitentiaries. The
first one was begun in the Wisconsin State Prison at Waupun
on February 2, 1890, just nine years to a day after the first
society in a church was formed. The Rev. Victor Kutchin,
the chaplain of the prison, was the organizer; and the charter
members consisted of 58 prisoners, of whom 35 were active
members. The highest membership at any one period was
204, and after less than five years 724 men had been con-
nected with this society. The following testimony came from
this chaplain of the first society after watching its results for
five years:

"By the working principles of the Christian Endeavor,
in connection with the usual methods employed by clergy-
men having a prison congregation^ we can easily arrive at

In Surprising Places.

475

476 christian Endeavor in All Lands,

the degree of spirituality wherein to grade the men who
through this means have become our special and more inti-
mate charges. It is also a very convenient mirror in which
the applicant for admission to the fold of the Good Shepherd
reveals his earnestness or lack of it, and that before he is
scarcely aware of our fully comprehending him. Where the
conversion is actual, the changed demeanor from that com-
mon sadness or recklessness so prevalent in penal institutions
to one of quiet and abiding trust peculiar to the genuine con-
vert is an indication which almost invariably indicates the
new disciple of the Master."

Prison societies began to multiply soon after the first one
was formed, and are now found in more than a score of the
largest penitentiaries in the country, and from almost every
prison come, from those best fitted to judge, reports that the
work done is not only most benign in its immediate efifects,
but permanently useful.

The usual sneer against all such efforts — and a very shal-
low and silly sneer it is — would make it appear that the pris-
oners profess conversion only to curry favor, or enter into the
work to pass away the time which hangs heavily upon their
hands. This is directly contradicted by the facts, which can
Y^^^ be learned from any one who is conversant with

Converted the livcs of the prisoners after their discharge.

Prisoners t-» • o • c •

" Hold The Utah State Prison Society, for instance, was

organized in 1899, and Mr. Robert J. Jessup, one
of the organizers, after six years of watchful interest says he
cannot recall more than two members who after their dis-
charge from confinement deliberately walked back into the
ways of sin, and both of these men were "dope fiends," whose
will-power had been destroyed by the drug.

In 1903 two of these Utah prison Endeavorers, one the
corresponding secretary, and the other the vice-president, of
the society prevented several murderers from escaping from
the prison, at the risk of their own lives.

In Surnrising: Places.

477

The New Mexico Prison Society recently celebrated its
tenth anniversary. Messages were received from former
members. One is superintendent of a gospel mission at Co-
hoes, N. Y. ; another has served as superintendent of a Sun-
day-school and president of a Christian Endeavor society in
Kansas; another is a coal-miner in New York; another is
in business in Texas; one is doing good carpenter work in
Santa Fe; and still another assists in the county jail work in

The White Christian Endeavor Society in Frankfort State Prison, Kentucky.

Las Vegas, and recently read a paper before the Santa Fe
Baptist Association.

The three Endeavor societies in the Kentucky Peniten-
tiary at Frankfort recently conducted a successful Bible con-
test in which 26 men took part, and each was given a handsome
Bible. In all 11,155 verses were memorized, and this was

478 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

only one of several like contests held in that prison. The
writer well remembers a visit to this prison, and his introduc-
tion to the three societies through the kindness of the warden
and the chaplain. In the prison for white men were a large
number of Endeavorers, who presented him with
In the a curious canc made of rings of horn skilfully glued

Kentucky together. In the prison for black men was another

Prisons. ° ^

society almost as large, whose president was the
poet of the prison, and who greeted their visitor with a poetic
effusion full of undeserved compliments, and then presented
him with a block of hard coal, but a little blacker than the
face of the poet, carved into the shape of a closed Bible.

In the woman's prison he was greeted by another com-
pany of Endeavorers, who gave him a beautiful bunch of
carnations, another Christian Endeavor surprise, and showing
the same sympathy, generosity, and kindness of heart that
Endeavorers outside of prison walls often manifest.

Among the souvenirs which I prize most highly are three
gavels made in different prisons, and beautifully made, too,
by Endeavorers who worked after hours to make them for
use in calling together the great conventions. Two of these,
adorned with silver bands, and finely inlaid, were given at
the convention in Nashville, and the Rev. S. N. Vail,
representing the Kentucky Endeavorers, happily said in pre-
senting one of them to the presiding officer:

"I deem it a great honor and privilege to present to this
convention a gavel fashioned and made by a convict, serv-
ing in the stripes and chains of Eddyville prison. He made
this gavel with a penknife and a little file, in his cell, after
his day's work, and in the light of a candle or lamp furnished
by friends outside of the prison walls.

"This brother was led to his Saviour by the Endeavor So-
ciety; and the polish and taste he has given to the otherwise
rough material in this gavel are emblematic of the change

In Surprising Places, 479

effected by the gospel in that prison. Instead of cruelty, it
has brought into those wards sweet sympathy, converted the
bare ground of the prison yard into a greensward studded
with beautiful flowers, whose daily mission (in the light of
an open Bible) is to teach those unhappy inmates the great
lesson of trust in God. It has filled the cells and workshops
of that institution with the benevolent atmosphere of the Sun
of Righteousness, while a number of its convicts are rejoicing
in the forgiveness of sin and the hope of eternal life through
Jesus Christ."

While I am engaged in writing this history,
A Letter a personal letter has come from an inmate of the
Anamosa. lowa State Penitentiary at Anamosa, which in its
substance is like scores of others that have come to
the writer. For eight years this society has been in existence.
"We are permitted," says my correspondent, "to meet for
twenty-five minutes every Sunday afternoon. One of the
prisoners takes charge of the meeting, and we are at liberty
to speak on the topic, bear testimony, lead in prayer, or sing,
with as much freedom as if we were outside prison walls.
Four times a year, on holidays, we hold a special meeting
which is of unusual interest, many more men taking part,
with more freedom than at the regular Sunday afternoon
meeting. One friend of mine was converted here as the result
of the society. He went out to lead an honorable Christian
life, engaged in Christian work, and died this summer faith-
ful to the last."

In all, many tens of thousands of convicts have been con-
nected with these prison societies, and several hundreds of
" Comrades ^^ese have become "Comrades of the Quiet Hour,"
of the showing that the deepest spiritual things appeal

Hour" to these men who have worn prison stripes. In-

in Prison. ^^^^ ^j^^ ^^^^^ cvangclist, Mr. Dwight L. Moody,

once said to me that he had found some of the best men he
knew among the Endeavorers in the prison society in New

480 Christian Endeavor in All Landso

Mexico, and they were murderers, too, who in a moment
of passion, when crazed by drink, perhaps, had taken the life
of a fellow man, but who, when given time to think and re-
pent behind prison bars, had been thoroughly converted.
Here is a verse of a beautiful poem written by a prisoner in
the Massachusetts State Prison, and published in The Mentor,
the prison paper:

"Only a convict! On Calvary

A leader once of a desperate band
Now calls in his dying agony

To his fellow sufiferer near at hand,
'Lord, when Thou reignest, remember me!'

And hears, to his wondering, glad surprise,
'Thou shalt be with me in Paradise.' "

Who will say after these examples of what Christ can do
within prison walls that such conversions are always "made
to order"?

The Endeavorers outside of prison walls have shared
in the benefits of this work for the prisoners, which they have
usually been instrumental in starting. Their sympathies have
been awakened and their vision of the possibilities of the
power of Christ have been widened as they strive to
obey His command, and have heard His gentle voice in ap-
proval say, "I was in prison, and ye visited me."

Another surprising place for a .society of
tha^ Christian Endeavor to appear is in a deaf and dumb

Societies.

asylum. One surely would not expect an organ-
ization whose active members are pledged to take "some part
aside from singing in every meeting" to be found in an insti-
tution where no one could utter a single word. Yet there are
several such societies, and I have never been more touched
than when in conventions on both sides of the water I have
seen a little company of bright, eager-faced Endeavorers,

In Surprising Places.

481

Christian Endeavor in India.
A Christian Endeavor Society in the School for the Blind at Bombay.

31 ^

482 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

whose other senses seemed to be more alert because of their loss
of hearing, watch the rapidly moving fingers of the interpret-
er, who with lightning-like signs interpreted what I had to
say. However fast I spoke, he was sure to keep up with me.
It was always a marvel to me how he could talk so rapidly
with his ten fingers, and how his audience could hear so ac-
curately with their eyes, and catch every distinct shade of
meaning; for this was evident from the lights and shadows
that passed over their faces as they saw the humor or the
pathos of a little story, or grew serious with some appeal to
their noblest natures.

One such society in Edinburgh is called the ^'Ephphatha
Society," in memory of our Lord's word when He looked up
to heaven, and said unto the deaf and dumb man, "Ephpha-
tha, that is, Be opened; and straightway his ears were opened,
and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain."
How marvellously among these deaf-mute Christians has
Christ's miracle been repeated! Through the hands of their
friends they have learned to hear. Through their own hands
they have learned to speak. They can testify to the love of
Christ as well as any one. They can offer prayers that their
companions can understand. They can enjoy a union meet-
ing as much as those who have five senses all in perfect condi-
tion. No wonder that they take the name "Ephphatha," "Be
opened," for the Master has not only opened their ears
through their eyes, but has opened their hearts to receive His
word and do His will.

Amon Another unlooked-for place in which to find

the Christian Endeavor work is among the life-savers,

the brave and resolute men who patrol our stormy
coast. In several of these stations Christian Endeavor so-
cieties have been formed, and to others Endeavorers have gone
with much profit to themselves as well as to the life-savers.
The Rev. C. D. Crane, the efficient secretary of the Maine

In Surprising Places,

483

Union, has done not a little for these lonely heroes, and has
sometimes held a meeting out-of-doors in order that the "look-
out," who was not allowed to come inside during his hours of
watch, might be present. All the life-saving stations on the
coast of Maine have thus been visited by Endeavorers.

Christian Endeavor was started for the young people,
and always has been and always will be a young people's

On the Valdez Glacier in Alaska.

society; but that is by no means the same as saying that there
can never be an old people's society, or a middle-aged peo-
ple's society. In fact, there have been many such. Indeed,
I have seen a picture of a Grandmothers' society in Japan,
where every wrinkled face and bent form told of many years
of service for others.

4^4 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Mothers' societies are comparatively common, though
not nearly as numerous as they should be. The first one was
started in the first Presbyterian Church of Topeka, Kan., in
April, 1893, by Mrs. Barton, whose son, Fred C. Barton, was
superintendent of the Juniors at that time. It was started to
help the Juniors, and this must always be one of the great
objects of the Mothers' society. That first Mothers' society
is still flourishing, and the members often meet at the homes of
one another, and spend a social day, sewing for some one who
for any reason has an extra amount of work on hand, while
regular meetings are also held in the homes of the
s^ciet^es different members. Many a work of love is quietly
accomplished by these ladies, such as visiting the
sick, calling upon the strangers, sending flowers and other
tokens of kindly remembrance. Why would not this be a
good kind of woman's club to establish in every church, whose
members might not become so familiar, perhaps, with the
ethics of John Stuart Mill or the pessimism of Schopenhauer,
but whose practical ethics might be improved by prayer and
practice of good works for others?

In proportion to the whole number of Endeavorers, Spain
has more Mothers' Endeavor societies than any other coun-
try, nearly a seventh being of this character, but there is a
great and unoccupied field for this kind of Endeavor all over
the world.

Another society of older people has been formed in Sol-
diers' Homes, and this, too, is a surprising development;
but the writer has seen a long row of veterans of the Civil
War, some scores of them, following the convention addresses
and joining in the convention songs with all the ardor and en-
thusiasm of the youngest Endeavorer. God bless these veter-
ans, who have enlisted in the army of Christ, as well as re-
sponded to their country's call for service.

Other societies have been formed among policemen,

In Surprising Places.

48s

among street-car employees, among travelling men, in schools
for the blind, among the employees of hospitals for the in-
sane and other hospitals, and in several large manufacturing
establishments. The transient nature of the constituency of
these societies sometimes makes it difficult to continue them
long; but, while they have existed, they have done much good.
The Travellers' societies have been largely merged into the

4 W*^ ^

f f I

. i ^

Some C. E. Veterans in the National Military Home, Leavenworth, Kansas.

"Gideon Bands" for commercial travellers; but the initial
impetus for this work, for which we all crave the largest suc-
cess, came from Christian Endeavor circles.

A most interesting society has been organized among the
officers and clerks, compositors and other employees of the
United Society of Christian Endeavor and The Christian En-
deavor World at their office in Boston, called the "Home

486 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

Office Society." Delightful little prayer-meetings are held

every week. Charming sociables bring the work-

iSome ers together occasionally for a "good time," and an

Office example is thus set which may well be followed

Society. , r T- J u u •

by other Endeavorers, whose busmess society may

be as helpful to the spiritual and social life as their church
society.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

FOUR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR JOURNEYS
AROUND THE WORLD.

IT HAS BEEN THE PRIVILEGE OF THE WRITER TO
TAKE THESE JOURNEYS AND MANY OTHERS IN THE
INTERESTS OF THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR MOVE-
MENT. SOME OF HIS IMPRESSIONS ARE HERE BRIEFLY
GIVEN.

" To me one of the supreme values of the Christian En-
deavor Society is its international character. The lines go
out to every part of Great Britain, to the capitals of con-
tinental Europe, to the wide-reaching realms where Chris-
tendom comes into contact with Islam and the more ancient
religions of Asia ; to brethren in Australia and New Zealand,
in southern Africa and in the isles of Japan. A composite
photograph of the national representatives of Christian En-
deavor would show us the races of mankind and womankind
the world over."

Rev. John Henry Barrows, D.D.,
late President of Oberlin College.

iT is not inappropriate at this point, perhaps, to de-
vote a brief chapter to some of the journeys taken
by the writer in connection with the introduction
of Christian Endeavor into foreign lands, especi-
ally as it gives him an opportunity to illustrate
some of the vital principles of Christian Endeavor which
come more forcibly to a traveller's attention on such journeys
than at any other time.

As was natural, the first journeys in the interest of Chris-
tian Endeavor were made to Great Britain, the mother coun-

487

488 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

try, which so soon largely adopted the daughter's method
of organization for the young. The first of these was made
in 1888, and the second in 1891. But the first journey around
the world was not undertaken until the fall of 1892, when,
almost immediately after the great convention in New York,
the writer with his wife and eldest son started to circumnavi-
gate the globe in the interests of Christian Endeavor. This
journey took them to the Hawaiian Islands, to all the colonies

A Beauty Spot in New Zealand.

of Australia with the exception of Western Australia, next
to China and Japan, back along the Chinese coast to Singa-
pore, Ceylon, Madura, Calcutta, and Bombay, through the
^^^ Red Sea and the Suez Canal to Egypt and the Holy

First Land. Then to Beirut and Syria, across Turkev,

Journey. . ,, , ,«.,,. ^

through the very heart of Asia Mmor to Constanti-
nople, by way of Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain to a

Four Journeys Around the World. 489

national convention in Great Britain, and thence to their own
home. This journey occupied nearly a year, and was full of
delightful experiences, some of which have been detailed in
another volume,* and resulted in the establishment of the
Society in some countries, and it is hoped in its strengthening
in other lands.

T^^g In 1896, at the call of Endeavorers in India

Second and South Africa, the president of the United So-
ciety undertook another journey, this time going
alone, visiting Egypt again, and going more thoroughly over
portions of India. At this time the United Society for India,
Burma, and Ceylon was formed. Immediately afterward, the
writer sailed from Madras to Durban in a coolie ship, a long
and lonesome voyage of twenty-three days, when he was the
only white passenger. But the friends he made and the meet-
ing he was able to attend in Natal, the Transvaal Republic,
and the Orange Free State (before these two were annexed by
Great Britain), as well as in Cape Colony, well repaid him
for the discomforts of the voyage, and he was glad to be able
to do a little something to arouse a larger Endeavor spirit
in Africa, where the work is now flourishing so vigorously.
While in South Africa, he met President Kruger of the
Transvaal and President Steyn of the Orange Free State, both
of whom were interested in his mission.

Sailing from Cape Town up the coast of Africa, he
joined his family in Southampton after a six months' absence,
and was enabled to spend some time with them among the
Endeavorers of Great Britain and the Continent before re-
turning home.

In the year 1900 an urgent call came from the Endeavor-
ers of China that he should attend their Fifth Annual Con-
vention, and so with Mrs. Clark and another son this journey
was undertaken, and a delightful convention was enjoyed in

* " Our Journey Around the World."

490

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

The

Third

Journey,

and

Home

by way of

Siberia.

Foochow, as well as many other meetings in Shanghai,
Ningpo, Peking, Tung-cho, and Pao-ting-fu in China, as
well as in most of the large centres in Japan.

In Japan, also, they were permitted to attend a most
delightful national convention in Kobe, and to renew the
friendship formed with the devoted missionaries on a pre-
vious journey. The travellers left China just before the
Boxer uprising, though no one at the time knew of the dread-
ful massacres that would break out in another fortnight; and
in order to get to London in season for the World's
Convention of 1900 they decided to travel across
Siberia by the newly opened Trans-Siberian route.
This was then entirely unknown, as steam commu-
nication had been opened for only a few days when
they started, and they were the first travellers of
any nation to go around the world by this route. There

were many unexpected
delays and much discom-
fort, and the journey oc-
cupied forty-two days
instead of the twenty-five
it was expected to take,
twenty of them being oc-
cupied with the journey
up the Amur River,
which just then was at its
shallowest. But the
journey was safely ac-
complished at last, and
London was reached the very day before the convention be-
gan, instead of with a margin of two weeks as was expected.
In 1903 the repeated and urgent calls of the Endeavorers
in New Zealand and Australia were responded to, and on
the last day of the year, together with his daughter as travel-

by Wheelbarrow to a Christian En-
deavor Service in China.

• Four Journeys Around the World. 491

ling companion and secretary, the writer started on a fourth
journey around the globe. In some respects this was one of
the most interesting of all, as he was permitted to
see some of the natural wonders of New Zealand
and Australia, as well as to note the remarkable
progress which had been made in Christian Endeavor circles
since his previous visit twelve years before. The Gold Fields
as well as the great cities of Australia were visited, and, sail-
ing from Albany, on King George's Sound, the travellers

The

Fourth

Journey

Mayoral Reception to Dr. Clark at Wellington, New Zealand, January 30, 1904.

made their way in a stanch Scotch ship across the "roaring
forties" to Durban, thence around the Cape of Good Hope
to Cape Town, and back to England by the usual route.

Owing to the delay of the steamer in crossing the great
ocean between Australia and Africa, the plans for this
visit to South Africa were seriously interfered with, and
the week which it was originally hoped could be spent
in this continent was reduced to three or four days, But
time enough was given to see many hearty and earnest
friends of the cause in Durban and Cape Town, and to be
cheered by the splendid results of the earnest Endeavor-

492

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

ers of South Africa. Before reaching home on this journey,
too, a visit was made to France, where the French national
union was formed, to Switzerland, and to Germany.

Many other journeys across the Atlantic have taken the
writer on different occasions to Great Britain and Germany
and Spain and Portugal and Scandinavia and Russia and
Bulgaria and Bohemia and Macedonia; to Italy, France, and
Switzerland; to Belgium, Holland, and Iceland.

He would be a dull scholar indeed who could go to this
travel school for so long without learning something of God's
ways with man, and the divine favor to the cause which it was
especially the traveller's business to promote. These journeys.

Ta$m tint a. Ft;b>.23.

Route of Dr. Clark's Fourth Journey Around the World, January to July, 1904.

too, might well induce humility of spirit, as they have re-
vealed how in every land it was "not by might, nor by power,"
not by human wisdom or skill of organization, but through
the divine good pleasure and kindly care, that the Society has
flourished and grown strong.

One chief impression which has been made upon the
writer's mind in these many journeyings is that of the blessed
reality of Christian fellowship the world around. It can
hardly be realized by my younger readers how comparatively

Four Journeys Around the World. 493

new is the development of this idea in its world-wide aspect.
Christian ^°^ ^^^ Christian traveller cannot go to any con-
Feiiowship siderable section of this world except Tibet with-

Evcrvwhcrc

'out finding that Christian brethren have been there
before him, and without receiving the right hand of Chris-
tian fellowship. Fifty years ago this could not possibly have
been said. Twenty-five years ago it was less true than now.
Even thirteen years since, when the first journey outlined in
this chapter was taken, it could not be said with the emphasis
with which it can now be asserted. Christian Endeavorers
may well be thankful that their organization has had some-
thing to do with the extension and promotion and permanent
establishment of this world-wide fellowship.

There are two songs which Christian travellers hear now
more commonly than any other two all around the world,
and they both show the yearnings of the heart for this kinship
in Christ, which is growing more wide and strong with every
passing year. These two songs are

"Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love,"

and "God be with you till we meet again."

These two songs have been translated into every tongue,
and are sung in every clime. The Christian Endeavor So-
ciety has had much to do with popularizing them, especially
the latter, which, it is said, was first sung in public at a gather-
ing of any considerable size in a Christian Endeavor union
meeting more than twenty years ago.

Another impression has been that of the immense value

of missionary work and the genuine heroism and devotion of

missionary workers. The heroes of the modern

HeroismT^ world are found very largely on the mission fields.

For the Christian martyrs of to-day we must look

to China and to Turkey; and it is the deliberate opinion of

494

Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

the author, after seeing missionaries of all denominational
boards in all parts of the world that there is no class of men
in any calling who, on the average, are so well educated, so
tactful and efficient in their work, so devoted and consecrated,
and on the whole so successful, as the missionaries of the cross.
It can safely be asserted that none others are doing so much
to change the face of the earth for good, physically, mentally,
morally, and spiritually, as the missionaries who have gone

A Scene in Scandinavia.

out from Christian lands to the "regions that sit in darkness
and the shadow of death."

One more impression that relates particularly to the So-
ciety of Christian Endeavor and its work is that of the adapt-
ability of its methods to all climes and conditions. It has
proved to be so entirely flexible that it can be used by the raw

Four Journeys Around the World. 495

heathen who twelve months ago never heard the gospel
preached, as well as by the most cultured young
people in any city in Great Britain or America.
The Hindu boys and girls who come from heathen
homes, and do not profess to be Christians, are formed into
societies whose only pledge is that they will read the Bible
and study about Christianity, and this is for them genuine
Christian Endeavor.

Flexible

Christian

Endeavor.

How We Traveled in the "Boxer" Country.

After all, human nature is very much the same all over
the world. The tint of the skin, the language or the accent,
the training and traditions of early life, these are all acci-
dents and of but little moment, compared with the underlying
need of every soul for communing with God, for fellowship
with Christ and His people, for aspiration and endeavor to
do service for one's fellow men for Christ's sake. These
longings and fundamental aspirations are found in every

496 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

heart, and these are met by the simple methods and the sane
and sensible programme and principles of Christian En-
deavor.

CHAPTER XXXVII.
CITIZENSHIP ENDEAVORS.

THE PART THE SOCIETY HAS TAKEN IN AROUSING THE
SPIRIT OF CHRISTIAN PATRIOTISM, STANDING FOR
CIVIC RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND OPPOSING UNJUST WARS IS
HEREIN DESCRIBED.

" As a training for citir:enship, for usefulness in the churches
and in the communities, its systematic, uniform, and united
activities, stimulated and sustained by the obligation of a cov-
enant with God and men as binding and exalting as the
' Solemn League and Covenartt ' of Scotland's noblest days, are
of the first order of practical importance."

Hon. Henry B. Macfarland,
President of the Board of Commissioners of the District of

Columbia.

" The Society has proved a most potent and effective influ-
ence in the elevation of the race and the advancement of our
Christian civilization."

Hon. Charles E. Littlefield,
Member of Congress from Maine.

]T was at an international convention in Montreal in
1893 that, so far as is known, the proposition was
first made that Endeavorers should take up good
citizenship as one of the regular features of their
work.

In the address of the president of the United Society
for that year this idea was dwelt upon at length, and with
these words this part of the address closed:

"This convention can pass no votes or resolutions that are
binding upon individuals or societies, — nor can any State or
local union,— but it can and should lead us in this and every
32 497

498 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

such matter more fully to recognize our individual responsi-
bility as citizens as well as Christian men and women. Some
phase of this very important subject of good citizenship,
viewed from the Christian standpoint, may well occupy our
attention at more than one of our Society prayer-meetings and
at more than one local-union gathering of the year to come.
How may we become better citizens? How may we be truer
patriots? Let us give to these a worthy answer."

In an entirely unexpected way has this suggestion been
carried out, and not only in occasional local-union gatherings
and society prayer-meetings, but in almost every American
and British convention of any considerable size from that
day to this has good citizenship been a prominent feature of
discussion and a frequent obJQCt of fervent prayer. In all
parts of the world, too, has the idea been taken up; and
China and India, as well as English-speaking lands, have
their good-citizenship rallies.

Is it too much to believe that the marvellous
JM^ civic awakening of the past two years, the like of

Awakening which has never been known in America, when

in America. i i • , , , , ,

corruption and bossism have been downed, and
righteousness exalted as never before in the history of the
nation, is due, in some measure at least, to the civic awakening
in the hearts of many young Christians?

Since the convention of 1893 tens of thousands of prayer-
meetings have been held with Christian citizenship for their
topic. Thousands of addresses have been made at local
unions, district meetings, State conventions, and national as-
semblies, some of them by the ablest orators in the country,
on this burning theme. The evils of the day have been vig-
orously attacked, corruption in high places has been unspar-
ingly denounced, and the loftiest patriotism has been held
up as the ideal before every young American. These meet-
ings could not have been without a vast influence; and,

Citizenship Endeavors. 499

though many other causes have contributed to the splendid
moral upheaval of 1905, the Christian Endeavor Society may
modestly claim to have done its share.

It can easily be conceived that the great danger of bring-
ing the flaming torch of patriotism to the inflammable spirits
of youth would be that good citizenship might sometimes be
spelled "partisanship," and the distinction between our party
and our country's good might be obscured. Especially when
some great moral issue was before us and advocated more
vigorously by one party than another, it has seemed difficult
for some to distinguish between the two. Some politicians
have taken advantage of this to try to capture the whole En-
deavor movement and carry it ofif into the hands of their
party.

One of the most unpleasant and bitter controversies, bit-
ter on one side at least, was aroused by the refusal of the
Society to become annexed to a particular political party;
and some good and able men felt that Endeavorers were not
living up to their profession unless all who could vote voted
in one way. But the Society weathered this storm, and it has
been an accepted principle that it cannot be made the tail of
any political kite.

But Endeavorers have not been content with simply list-
ening to eloquent addresses, or passing empty resolutions.
In hundreds of cases they have exerted a potent influence on
the right side in municipal, State, and sometimes national
politics.

As is natural, since intemperance is the most

The

Society flagrant and outstanding sin of the generation, tem-
Temperahce P^rance matters have received especial attention.
Oftentimes the Endeavorers have lined up under
different political banners for "no license" when local-option
laws gave them a chance to vote. In Boston their earnest
efforts recently induced one of the largest department stores,

500 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

which had opened a liquor department, to close it out and
advertise widely that no drop of liquor should ever be sold
on their premises. In Newcastle-on-Tyne in England a simi-
lar liquor nuisance has just been abated in the same way.
Many other like instances might be narrated. But the

Dnnking-Fountain Erected by Christian Endeavorers.

good-citizenship committees have not by any means, confined
their efforts to opposition of this sort, but have been positive
and constructive forces for good, in establishing drinking-
fountains, ice-water tanks in public places, cofifee-rooms and

Citizenship Endeavors.

501

temperance cafes, reading-rooms and amusement-rooms for
children and young people, who might otherwise be on the
street, and in a multitude of efforts of this sort, the mere
catalogue of which is too long to record. The Cleveland

y Union has been particularly active in the establishment of
drinking-fountains, while recently, we are told, at the inter-
section of three busy streets in Philadelphia, the Delaware
branch of the Philadelphia Union has erected a beautiful
fountain of Barre granite, where even dogs as well as horses
may get a cooling drink, while a supply of ice-water is kept
constantly in the pipes to refresh the thirsty pedestrian, driver,
and street-car man.

The Ohio Endeavorers were wide awake in the last elec-
tion* in opposing the corrupt politics which had become in-
trenched in that State.

No president was ever more popu-
lar than the present occupantt of the
White House, who with the desire of
reform has cleaned out so many dark
and dirty political corners. The re-
form governor of Missouri, Governor
Folk, was himself an Endeavorer in
his earlier days, and most valiantly
has been carrying out the principles of

' the Society in city and State. The
Hon. Samuel B. Capen, who is not
ashamed to wear the Christian En-
deavor badge, and who was the chair-
man of the comm_ittee that prepared
for the greatest Christian Endeavor Hon. S. b. Capen, ll. d.

Boston, Mass.

convention ever held, has been a prom-
inent reformer in Boston and Massachusetts State politics,

* 1905.

t President Roosevelt.

502 christian Endeavor in All Lands.

and has frequently spoken wise and eloquent words about

Christian citizenship at our conventions, local and national.

Unjust war has been peculiarly abhorrent to

Efforts , , . ^ . ^^, . . -P^ ,

for the latest generation or active Christian bndeavor-

Peace. ^^^ With joy they have hailed every effort in the

interests of peace and arbitration; and, when the historic
commission met at The Hague, the American representatives,
we are told, were heartened and encouraged in their efforts
by hundreds of congratulatory telegrams and letters from
Christian Endeavor societies and conventions all over the
United States.

The International Congress advocated by Mr. Raymond
L. Bridgman, and favored unanimously by both houses of the
Massachusetts legislature and in other States as well, has es-
pecially enlisted the sympathy of Christian Endeavorers, and
many thousands of petitions like the following have been sent
to the Senate of the United States:

To the Senate of the United States of America'. —

The undersigned, representing the Christian En-
deavor Society {town) {State), earnestly

desiring the abolition of war and the federation of the nations,
respectfully petition your honorable body, as has already been
done unanimously by the legislature of Massachusetts, to au-
thorize the President of the United States to invite the govern-
ments of the world to join in establishing, in whatever way they
may judge expedient, an International Congress, to meet at
stated periods to deliberate upon questions of common interest
to the nations, and to make recommendations thereon to the
governments.

President.

Secretary.

Mr. Amos R. Wells through The Christian Endeavor
World has been particularly active in arousing interest in
this forward step in the interests of universal peace.

Citizenship Endeavors. 503

Nearly akin to this effort is the "International Brother-
hood," which was launched by the Lincolnshire and Cheshire
Federation of Christian Endeavor unions of Great Britain,
and first came before the public in a large way at the London

convention in 1904.
national Mr. W. H. McKcllen, the secretary of the

'Federation, has been the chief worker for the In-
ternational Brotherhood, has enlisted many Endeavorers in
many lands, and has secured the active interest of such ardent
lovers of peace as Mr. W. T. Stead and others of like char-
acter. Here are the principles to which the members of the
International Brotherhood subscribe:

"While we distinctively recognize the fact that En-
deavorers belong to all political parties, and adhere to our
principle that the Society should never be used for partisan
political purposes, and while we fully acknowledge the right
of our fellow Endeavorers who honestly differ from us to their
own views, we, the undersigned, agree to form ourselves into
an International Brotherhood, to stand for peace and good
will among all the nations of the world.

"We believe that war, except for the defence of liberty or
the relief of the oppressed, is wrong, unchristian, and bar-
baric.

"We believe in the settlement of international disputes by
arbitration rather than by the sword.

"We believe in exhausting every honorable means to pre-
vent war between nation and nation, and to secure the bless-
ings of peace.

"To prevent the infamy of unjust war, and to extend the
principles of International Brotherhood, we will do what in
us lies.

"We will pray for our brotherhood in every land, and
that the reign of the Prince of peace may speedily prevail
throughout the world."

To show that the spirit of Christian citizenship is not
confined to the Endeavorers of America we need only recall

504 Christian Endeavor in All Lands.

how the Brazilian Endeavorers recently at their convention
gathered around the great monument that tells of their na-
tional independence, and sang their national anthem; how the
Chinese Endeavorers listened with rapt attention to a speech
on patriotism at their last national convention by Dr. Arthur
H. Smith, an address which captivated the visiting mandarins
as well as the Endeavorers ; and how at a recent South African
convention the "native question," the burning good-citizen-
ship topic of the present time, was discussed by the president
of one of the unions, the Rev. J. G. Aldridge, who pertinently
said:

Christian "It is a matter of congratulation that the Chris-

Citizenship ^-j^j^ Eudcavor movement is essentially a movement
South for the promotion of good citizenship. ... In

Africa. Christian duty we are bound to regard the native as

an object of peculiar care. Do not be misled by those who
contend you will solve the problem by the sjambok and by
making him a beast. O, no; there must be the most careful,
far-sighted, and Christian legislation. And here, in this con-
nection, I would impress upon you as Endeavorers to study
well the problem and the men who seek your suffrages. I in-
sist upon this, because to my mind there is just as much re-
ligion in the way in which you cast a vote at an election as there
is in singing a hymn upon the Sabbath."

Every country has its peculiar problems and its easily
besetting sins. In Australia it is gambling, and the Austra-
lian Endeavorers have naturally taken up arms against this
awful evil. A recent number of the Australian Christian En-
deavor Golden Link contains a scathing article on the national
sin, with a special denunciation of the city government of
Hobart, Tasmania, which has legalized and protected gam-
bling or the gamblers, who received many a hard blow when
the Endeavorers met in that fair city.

To return to America, an interesting development of the
good-citizenship spirit is shown in Massachusetts, where

Citizenship Endeavors.

505

Patriots' Day, April 19, the anniversary of the first battle of
the Revolutionary War, is observed by the great district unions
of the State with a Patriots' Day rally. Formerly Fast Day
was observed in Massachusetts at about this time of year; but
^ . , , the good old Pu

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Full text of "Christian endeavor in all lands; a record of twenty-five years of progress; the story of a great religious movement which has spread over all the earth from a small beginning in America"

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